Senate to deal with MDAs violating Procurement Act

The Senate on Thursday threatened to deal with Ministries, Departments or Agencies (MDAs) which violated the Public Procurement Act which compelled them to give preference to locally-produced in their purchases.

President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, made the threat when members of Leather and Allied Products Manufacturers Association of Abia State (LEAPMAAS) visited him in Abuja.

He charged chairmen of all standing committees of the senate to ensure that MDAs comply with the law on patronage of local manufacturers in the course of oversight functions of the committees.

Saraki challenged all military and para-military agencies in the country to emulate the Army by procuring items like booths and other needs locally.

He said that the Federal Government spent more than N2 trillion annually on the procurement of goods.

He stated that the upper chamber was determined to ensure that a large chunk of the funds on procurement went into the coffers of Nigerian manufacturers.

The president of the senate advised local manufacturers to petition the red chamber whenever any government agency denied them patronage.

He said that the senate would bring erring MDAs to book.

“I commend you for your determination and creativity. Today, we have made it a national project.

“I also promise that we will amend the existing law to give your efforts a solid legal backing that will ensure patronage for your products and that of other local manufacturers.

“This has also been done with the amendment of the Public Procurement Act.

“I have a promise from the House of Representatives that they will soon pass the same bill,” Saraki said.

He also said “I also commend your persistence such that over the years you have been there, giving your support to the growth of the economy.

“With little or no assistance, you continued to demonstrate that you have the capacity to produce different high quality goods for the use of Nigerians.

“This is a very big agenda that we are promoting. I want to thank my colleagues and let me remind you that we have kept our promises, so you should not disappoint us.

“You must improve on the quality of the goods.

“On our own part, this is an agenda we believe in; we will continue to support you.”

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Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Mr Nuel Hart, said that they were at the National Assembly to commend Saraki, the Senator representing Abia South, Enyinnaya Abaribe and other Senators for their support in promoting made in Aba goods.