The Senate on Wednesday directed its Committees on Public Procurement and Local Content to partner with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to amend Nigeria’s procurement and local content laws so that newly registered local contractors can be included, especially in contract bidding.

This resolution of the Red Chamber followed its consideration and adoption motion sponsored by Sadiq Suleiman (APC, Kwara North) during plenary.

The aim of the motion is to ensure that newly registered local contractors and small-scale businesses can access and execute public contracts, especially in construction and other infrastructure projects.

Suleiman, while presenting the motion decried the exclusion of small and medium indigenous companies from participating in federal government contracts.

He argued that empowering local contractors would not only increase job creation but also stimulate community development and ensure that public funds circulate within the local economy.

Many senators supported the motion during the debate.

Senator Mohammed Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) emphasised the economic implications of the motion, noting that local contractors often have the required expertise and capacity but are overlooked due to current procurement guidelines.

Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi Central) questioned the logic of excluding qualified Nigerian firms from benefiting from their own government’s contracts.

“No Nigerian contractor no matter high skilledbcam go to China to get contract. I didn’t see why we should not engage indigenous people to participate in the construction,” he added.

The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, expressed the same concerns, noting that local contractors are consistently shortchanged.

“Our local contractors are being shortchanged. It is not that we don’t like the foreigners but our people should not remain like that. The local content act should be amended,” Barau added.

Senators approved the prayers of the motion when they were put to voice vote by
Senate President Akpabio.

Akpabio thereafter directed the relevant committees to work closely with the BPP in amending the laws to allow greater local participation in federal contracts, including those awarded to startups and newly registered firms.

He said: “I believed this will cure all the defects we have in the contracting system and the idea of shutting out newly registered companies from participating even when they have clearly performed.

“Your can’t have experience if you do not have the opportunity. Somebody must give you the opportunity before you can have the experience.”

Culled The Nation