Police Service Commission Template, Process, and Practices,' where he traced the structure of a Procurement Planning Committee in Government Ministries and Parastatals, the basic three categories of contract in the Public Procurement Act, 2007, and the rules of the contracting game which the procuring entity should comply with.

In this presentation, he examined the legal framework and administrative instruments in public procurement in Nigeria and the liabilities and consequences of non-compliance.

He frowned at the non-operationalization of the National Council on Public Procurement and the lack of proper administrative control and oversight function over Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in contract award and execution by the Bureau of Public Procurement.

The speaker also delved into the challenges of delays in processing and approval of requests for “No Objection” by the Bureau and inadequate funding to sustain capacity building.

He expressed displeasure at the mismatch between budgetary appropriations and the actual release of funds, saying it constituted a serious threat to Nigerian public procurement practices.

The DIG also identified delays in the investigation and prosecution of offenders of the provisions of the Procurement Act, delays in payment and sometimes non-payment of contractors for work done, and weak enforcement that have given rise to a pervasive culture of non-compliance.

To mitigate these challenges and others, he advocated for the elevation of procurement authority to a high level (presumably to a talented person of high integrity), strengthening anti-corruption measures, enhancing the legal and regulatory framework, and mitigating political influences.

In his presentation, Mr.

Aliyu Ahmad, Head of the Procurement Unit of the Police Service Commission, opined that public procurement can stimulate economic activity, create jobs, support local businesses, and promote openness, fairness, and accountability in government spending.

According to him, effective public procurement will ensure the government gets the best value for its money, reduce waste and inefficiency, and facilitate the development of critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and public buildings.

Apata Oyeniran is a correspondent at Independent Newspapers Limited.

He is a professional and management scientist.

He has found himself writing on education, tourism/hospitality, and business.

He is committed and makes people and responsibilities less burdensome.

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