Ibrahim Brima Swarray, NPPA Chief
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) and his team have told the ongoing Budget Hearing Committee that the NPPA wants Le 4.2 billion for the Fiscal Year 2019. This money will make NPPA to be able to effectively monitor and supervise the country’s procurement process, which accounts for over 70% of government budgetary spending.
Mr. Swarray told newsmen that the new NPPA,under his watch, wants to ensure that procurement processes in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs)are monitored from inception so that the rules and procedures will be consistently followed.
MDAs, he continued, will no longer be allowed to change the goal post at the middle of the game, as the Authority will conduct reviews to ensure that the due process is followed.
The Chief Executive Officer also disclosed that, unto date, the NPPA has rejected all duty waivers that have reached the Authority. He also noted that, on Tuesday next week, the Authority will launch the organization’s maiden bulletin, which will clearly outline all the MDAs that have requested for waivers and the reasons for the NPPA not approving such waivers, amongst other the activities and programs of the NPPA for the last few months.
The NPPA, Mr. Brima Swarray went on, wants to ensure that MDAs are clearly provided with the opportunity to allow bidders to compete fairly, thereby discouraging sole sourcing in the entire procurement process.
This, he went on, will create value for money in the procurement process. He concluded by disclosing to newsmen that the NPPA has saved a little over US$ 65 billion through different procurement activities conducted by MDAs from June 2018.
The NPPA CEO noted that the quarterly price norms will continue to serve as guides to MDAs while the organization’s bulletin will continue to inform members of the public about what the NPPA is doing as far as stabilizing the procurement process is concerned.