The Senate Committee on Public Procurement has taken a hard stance against federal ministries, departments, and agencies that ignore its invitations or fail to submit required accountability reports, announcing an immediate suspension of their procurement activities.
The committee Chairman, Senator Olajide Ipinshagba, disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, revealing that several government bodies had repeatedly failed to cooperate with the committee’s oversight responsibilities.
According to Ipinshagba, the move is being carried out in collaboration with the Bureau of Public Procurement to enforce transparency and compliance with procurement regulations.
He said, “It has come to our attention that several agencies and institutions have repeatedly and unapologetically flouted our invitations to appear before the committee. This lack of cooperation and blatant disregard for due process is unacceptable,” he said.
“We are committed to enforcing the Public Procurement Act and will not hesitate to impose penalties on individuals or agencies showing flagrant disregard for the law,” he added.
The committee is partnering BPP to enforce compliance with the Public Procurement Act and ensure transparency, competitiveness, and fairness in government spending.
“Effective immediately, any ministry or agency that continues to flout our summons will face suspension of their procurement processes. We will also recommend disciplinary measures against individuals or entities who persist in this defiance,” he added.
Ipinshagba urged all government agencies to view the committee’s oversight as both a legal mandate and a moral obligation to uphold accountability.
He said, “We must work together to ensure that our procurement processes reflect the highest standards of accountability and ethics. We owe that to the constituents who depend on us to ensure their resources are managed effectively and responsibly.
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