Aregbesola signs 2015 Public Procurement Bill into law

Osun state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Wednesday February 10 2016, signed 81 sections Public Procurement Bill into law.

He said the law will help in no small way to turn around the financial capacity of the state.

Aregbesola while signing the bill at the Governor’s office, Abere, said the bill was necessary because of its provision for open competitive bidding.

He added that the bill is aimed at reducing cost of governance which he said is necessary at a time when economy of the nation is in “special period.”

He said the law has provision for public dissemination of information on government procurement which will guarantee citizens, particularly small and medium scale enterprises opportunities to participate in public procurement processes.

He stressed that the bill will ensure probity, accountability, transparency, value for money as well as establish fair pricing standards and benchmarks.

Aregbesola noted that government has put in place adequate guideline to safeguard the law from being abused by people.

He also noted that the procuring office must carry out appropriate market and statistical surveys, prepare analysis of cost implication of a proposed procurement among other functions.

Speaking earlier on the bill, the former Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties in Osun, Dr. Ajibola Bashiru, stated that the ‎Public Procurement Law, 2015 is a well-researched Law in line with the demand for transparency, accountability and effectiveness that the procurement process demands.

He said that the passage of the Law will guarantee Osun citizens’ opportunities to participate in the economic opportunities and benefits embedded in public procurement, among others.

Ajibola also added that the law will also ensure probity, accountability, transparency, value for money as well as establish fair pricing standards and benchmarks.

He said, “The new State of Osun Procurement Law, 2015 is the provision for E-procurement as contained in Section 61 which provides that the Board shall design and set up a secure electronic portal, not later than twelve months from the enactment of this Law or at such time that the Governor may consider appropriate”.

Ajibola added that Section 25 of the new law makes it mandatory that all procuring entities must have a procuring Office with the function of i‎nitiating the entity’s procurement process.