A Brief History of Public Procurement Reform in Katsina State.

Nigeria, especially since the early 80s has been confronted with a magnitude of economic problems. These economic problems, in brief, include stagnant growth, rising inflation, unemployment, food shortage and mounting external debt.

This implies high level of budget inefficiency in Nigeria. This trend is worse at the state and local government levels where sometimes, budgets only target recurrent spending such as salaries, which even have been noted to fall behind by sometimes close to twelve months. Capital allocation suffers the worst inefficiency.

In the determination of the Federal government of Nigeria towards domesticating the Law in the Country, an Executive Bill was passed by the National Assembly after it went through the crucibles of legislative enactment and  assented to by the Late President Umar Musa Yar’adua GCFR to become Law (Public Procurement Act, 14 of 2007). State government across Nigeria were equally advised by the then President to domesticate the Procurement Law in their various states without compromising the general principles of the Law.

The Government of Katsina State in her wisdom, passed and domesticated the Public procurement law in the State, in the year 2017. The State Public Procurement Law became effective and operational on June 9^th 2017. The guideline provided step by step procedures and rules to assist procurement entities across the State to undertake public procurement in accordance with the law.

The passage of Katsina State Public Procurement law is a clear demonstration of the Katsina State government to engender acceptable procurement principles anchored on best practices through openness, transparency, accountability and value for money. Although, the Principal Law was amended in the month June 2020, and reflect new composition of the governing board.

The Governing Board shall comprise of the Deputy Governor as a chairperson and other members as follows:

–         Commissioner, Ministry of finance

–         Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning

–         Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice

–         Commissioner, Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs,

–         Accountant General of the state

–         Representative from Governor’s office

Others include one representative from the following groups,

–         Nigerian Society of Engineers,

–         Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors

–         Nigerian Institute of Architectures,

–         Katsina State Chamber of Commerce, Industries Mines and Agriculture

–         Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Mgt. of Nigeria.

–         Coalition of Civil Society Organization in the State

–         One member from each three senatorial zones of the state one of whom shall be a woman; and the Director General of the Bureau who shall serve as the secretary.

The Director General was appointed on 23^rd June, 2020, by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Katsina State, RT Hon. Aminu Bello Masari saddled with day today administration of the Bureau, monitor all the procurement activities in the State and Local Governments as provided for under section 25 of the State Procurement law. The scope of the Law also states that, the law shall apply to all procurement of goods works and services carried out by the State and Local Government Councils and all procurement entities in the State, and all entities outside the foregoing description which derive at least thirty five percent (35%) of the fund appropriated or processed to be appropriate for any type of procurement described in the law for revenue of the state government share of consolidated revenue fund.

The State Bureau of Public Procurement is empowered to carry out the functions as listed below and it includes:

1.  Formulate and Obtain approval of the Board on the general public procurement policies.

2.  Publicize explain the provision of the law

3.  Certify all procurement prior to the award of contract as approved by the board

4.  Supervise the implementation of established procurement policies.

5.  Monitor the prices of tendered items and keep state database of standard price.

6.  Publish the details of major contract in the procurement journal

7.  Maintain a state database of a particulars and classification and categorization of state contractors and service provides

8.  Prevent fraudulent and unfair procurement and where necessary apply administrative sections.

9.  Review the procurement and aware of contract procedures of every entity to which the law applies.

10.               Issue a certificate of “No Objection” for contract award within prior review threshold for all procurement

The Katsina State Bureau of Public Procurement through her guidelines ensure that, all procurement activities that falls within the prior review threshold across the State should be referred to the Bureau for approval and that of the Local government  Councils must be routed to the Bureau through the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy  for vetting with due regards to the threshold approval limits and seeking for Certificate of No- Objection from the Bureau, relevant attachments must be forwarded to the Bureau such as Bill of Quantitative, Design and Drawings and Specification. The threshold for local Governments will soon be determine for compliance.