By Chesa Chesa
President Bola Tinubu has ordered a review of inherited public projects requiring augmentation (extra budgetary funding) before they are re-presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for consideration and approval.
To this end, he has set up a panel chaired by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to look into the amendment of the Public Procurement Act in order to ensure probity, proficiency and diligence in project execution.
Briefing newsmen after the FEC meeting chaired by the President at the Presidential Villa yesterday, the Minister if Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said though approvals were given to some projects presented by some other ministries, those inherited projects presented by the Works Minister, Dave Umahi were stepped down for review and possible prioritization.
“The idea is to re-examine, especially those parts that require augmentation or review. The Minister of Works has been directed to work with the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning and the Minister of Finance to look at those projects again, and bring them in line strictly with budgetary provisions, where there is a necessity of additional funding, this will be brought back to the Federal Executive Council meeting next time for further deliberation.
“So, today, we don’t have so many projects that were approved as a result of that. But of note is that Mr President, in line with his thinking of ensuring that there is probity, proficiency and diligence in project execution, has directed that all projects that require additional funding especially major project of the Ministry of Works, be looked at once again so that there will be further deliberation on that at the next council meeting.”
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, joined by the Attorney-General, Lateef Fagbemi, also explained that the Council discussed the National Council on Procurement noting that a bill to that effect is currently being considered at the National Assembly
“The whole idea is to ensure that we have a robust national council of procurements that will continue to look at all aspects of procurement, in line with the vision and to bring every project into the fiscal financial discipline that he is always talking about,” he said.
“President Bola Tinubu today in line with the desire to enhance more fiscal discipline and further demonstrate to Nigerians our commitment to serving them better, raised the issue of the reconciliation between the Appropriation Act, Public Procurement law and the Fiscal Responsibility Act.
“The FEC has set up a committee under the chairmanship of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to review the Public Procurement Act.
“However, after a robust discussion the president directed that all ministries department and agencies should review their intended procurement as provided for in the appropriation such that where there are gaps between appropriated sums and sums required to execute the projects, that can be brought to the attention of both the Ministry of Budget and National Planning and Federal Ministry of Finance, such that the memo that the cabinet secretariat will provide to the FEC, will have clarity of where funding is expected to come from and recommendation so as to guide effectively the Federal Executive Council decision.
“Mr. President, directed that the report of the public procurement committee be provided to him so that can take decisions accordingly”, he added.
