Project Materials

THE PROCUREMENT ACT AND ITS IMPACT ON THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF OFFICERS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR

ABSTRACT

The study looked at the impact of the procurement act on the accountability of officials in Nigeria’s public sector, utilising personnel from the Kaduna state ministry of education as a case study. The objectives were to critically evaluate the procurement legislation, determine its influence on quality control in the public sector, and investigate its overall impact on corruption reduction in the public sector. The study used a sample size of 80 respondents, who were given questionnaires to express their views on the use and application of the procurement act in their respective departments. The study used both primary and secondary sources of data. The study’s findings demonstrate that the procurement legislation generally provides suppliers with a fair opportunity to compete with one another. According to the report, the procurement legislation requires rigorous compliance when awarding contracts, harmonisation of the contract process, and transparency in the contract process in order to maintain a fair and level playing field for all contractors.

Chapter one

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

This study aims to shed more light on the influence of the Public Procurement Act on the accountability of procurement officers in the public sector in the Kaduna State Ministry of Education, as well as how it contributes positively to resource conservation in a service organisation.

However, the researcher believes it would be critical to perform a thorough investigation of the procurement process or system utilised by the services organisation, as well as the impact of the federal government procurement act on the accountability of procurement officers in the public sector.

Based on widespread corruption, doing government business had degraded significantly by the year 2000. This was attributable to the fact that no meaningful consideration was given to public service rules.

Financial regulations, ethics, and standards are implemented for selfish purposes. The federal administration acknowledged the critical need for transparency in government procedures in order to take the system forward.

As a result, in 2000, the federal government commissioned the World Bank to work with certain private sector experts to analyse the country’s financial systems and general procurement activities.

The purpose of this request to the World Bank is to assist the Nigerian government in implementing efficiency, accountability, integrity, and transparency in its procurement and financial management systems.

Based on this, the country procurement assessment report was created using a participatory review approach including key stakeholders, including representatives from the private sector as well as the federal, state, and local governments, with assistance from foreign and national consultants.

1.2 Statement of the Problems

A diagnostic study conducted in 2001 on the state of federal government public procurement revealed that Nigeria may have lost trillions of naira over the last two decades as a result of flagrant abuse of procedures for awarding public contracts, inflation of contract costs, lack of transparency, lack of competence-based competition, and merit as the fundamental criteria for awarding public contracts.

The study’s findings made it imperative that the country urgently reform its procurement system if the country is to reduce the large-scale corruption and waste that had reduced the efficiency of the Nigerian public sector.

Most organisations lost a lot of money each year due to various manipulations of the procedure for awarding contracts and supplying materials.