ABSTRACT
the
study examined the impact of the 2007 procurement act on the accountability of
officers in the public sector of Nigeria using employees of the state ministry
of education, Kaduna as a case study. Objectives formulated were to critically
appraise the 2007 procurement act, check mate its impact on quality control in
the public sector and examine its overall impact on corruption reduction in the
public sector. A sample size of 80 respondents were used for the study as they
were issued questionnaires to sample their opinions on the usage and
application of the 2007 procurement act in their various departments. Both
primary and secondary sources of data were applied for the study. Findings from
the study reveal that the procurement act generally allows for a fair
opportunity to suppliers to compete with each other. The study revealed that
strict compliance when awarding contract, harmonization of the contract
process, transparency in the contract process were all enshrined in the
procurement act to ensure affair and leveled playground for all contractors.
CHAPTER
I: Introduction
1.1
Background
of the Study
This
study intends to shed more light on the impact of public procurement act on the
accountability of procurement officers in public sector in Kaduna state
ministry of education and how it contribute positively towards the conservation
of resources in a services organization.
However,
the researcher feel it would be of great importance to conduct a detailed study
on the procurement process or system used by the services organization and the
impact of federal government procurement act on the accountability of procurement
officers in the public sector.
Base
on wide spread corruption, conducting government business degenerated so much
by the year 2000. This was due to the fact that no serious attention was paid
to public service rule.
Financial
regulations ethics and norms because of selfish reasons. The federal government
noted the urgent need to transparency in government procedure so as to be able
to move the system forward. Hence, the federal government in 2000 commissioned
the world bank to collaborate with some private sector specialist to study
financial systems and general procurement related activities in the country.
The essence of this request to the world bank is to assist Nigerian government
with a process of enthroning efficiency, accountability, integrity and
transparency in government procurement and financial management system.
It
was based on this that the country procurement assessment report was produced
through a participatory review approach from key stakeholders including
representative from private and the federal, state and local government with
assistance from international and national consultants.
1.2
Statement
of the Problems
A
diagnostic study conducted in 2001 in to the state of federal government public
procurement revealed that Nigeria may have lost trillions of naira over the
last two decades because of flagrant abuse of procedures for the award of
public contracts, inflation of contracts costs, lack of transparency, lack of
competence based competition and merit as the fundamental criteria for the
award of public contracts. The finding of the study made it imperative that the
country urgently reform its procurements system, if the country is to reduce
the large scale corruption and waste that had reduced the efficiency of the
Nigeria public sector
Most
organization lost a lot of money annually through all kind of manipulation of
the procedure for the award of contracts and supply of materials.
Ministries
and government agencies has been facing difficulties in the award of contract
due to lack of due process in the agencies.
Federal
government preferment act on the accountability of procurement officers in
public sector is a vital tool in any fine-tuning organization either service or
profit oriented organization. But it has been observed that its importance and
role which can lead to efficiency had not yet been appreciated in most Nigeria
ministries today.
1.3
Objective
of the Study
The
main rational of this study is to appraise the procurement act and its impact
on the accountability of officers in public sector.
These
objectives are as follows:
-
To evaluate the procurement act as it
relates to providing fair opportunities to suppliers through bidding in a
competitive environment for all government business.
-
To evaluate the contributions /impact of
the act towards reducing and eliminating corruption in the procurement process
and earn the respect of the public and supplier.
-
To examine the contribution of the act
toward Quality control and assurance
-
To evaluate the contributions of the
procurement act towards budget monitoring and control.
1.4
Significance
of the Study
The
research work will critically concern with the impact of procurement act on the
accountability of procurement officers in public sector which is essential
things in the government ministries for the award of public contract. It is
imperative to note that this research work will be beneficial
The
importance of the research work base on its benefit, there will be ultimate to
the organization itself and students of purchasing and supply department at
large.
Significantly
the researcher hope that this research work will provide the organization with
a meaningful and useful source of information in to guess to embark on
procuring and award of contracts.
Organization
will benefit from the research finding and recommendation in the process of
awarding contract and procurements
It
will also be useful to subsequent researcher and student who may wish to
conduct further research in this field, it will served as data base for further
study.
It
is a requirement in partial fulfillment for the award of a Higher National
Diploma in Purchasing and Supply of Kaduna Polytechnic.
1.5
Research Questions
1.
How do the procurement act provide fair
opportunity to suppliers in the competitive market environment.
2.
What are the impact of the procurement
act towards reducing corruption in the award of public contract.
3.
What are the contribution of the
procurement act of quality control and assurance.
4.
What are the relevance of procurement
reforms act to subject monitoring and control.
1.6
Scope
of the Study
This
study does answer to all problems related to the federal government procurement
act rather its limited to it chosen narrow area of accountability of
procurement officers, its fairness, integrity and basis of effective control in
public sector
Since
the researcher is concerned with federal government procurement act on the
accountability of procurement officers in the public sector particularly Kaduna
state ministry of education.
1.7
Definition
of Terms
The terms used in the
course of the researchers project are however defined as follows for easy
understanding.
Procurement:
This is the acquisition of goods services or works from an external source.
Procurement:
Means acquisition
Procurement Proceeding:
Means the initiation of the process of effecting a procurement up to award of
procurement contract.
Procurement entity:
Means any public body engaged in procurement and it include a ministry
extra-ministerial office, government agency, parastatals and corporation.
Public procurement: Means the acquisition by any means of goods,
works or services by the government.
Public accountability:
The obligations of public enterprises and agencies (who are entrusted with
public resources) to be answerable for fiscal and social responsibilities, to
them.
Due process:
It is a mechanism for ensuring strict compliance with the openness, completion
and cost accuracy, rules and procedures that should guide contract award within
the federal republic of Nigeria (BMPIU 2005)
Relevant Authority: It
includes economic and financial crimes commission (EFCC) and independent
corrupt practices commission (ICPC).
Public
Procurement Act:
It is the act enacted by the national assembly to establish two public procurement
– regulating authorities.