The House of Representatives has vowed to punish anyone who violates the Public Procurement Act, News About Nigeria reports.
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Procurement, Rep. Unyime Idem, stated this while speaking at a public hearing on a bill to amend the 2007 Public Procurement Act on Monday.
The warning he noted, was directed to Ministries Department and Agencies, MDAs, of government.
He stated that the bill, titled “A bill for an Act to amend the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria Act 2007, is to be in tandem with what has been obtained in procurement professional practice across the globe and for related matters.
“I want to sound a note of warning to all government entities that are in the habit of dishonouring parliamentary invitations to kindly desist from such deviant behaviour.
“Failure to do so, the Committee will not hesitate to invoke its legislative powers by Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution,” he stated.
He also disclosed that the committee will invoke Order 20 Rule 92 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives and Section 58 (5) of the Public Procurement Act.
This, according to him, includes possible legal action to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of the nation’s democratic institutions.
He maintained that the CIPSMN bill is considered a priority because of the important role it has played in shaping professionals in the field of purchasing and supply chain management in Nigeria.
He added that this includes the development of high-standard professional skills, abilities, and integrity among all those engaged in procurement practice.
