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Senate to pass 2020 budget, today

 

The Senate on Wednesday passed the Public Procurement Act 2007
amendment bills before the National Assembly, even as its President,
Ahmad Lawan, announced that the 2020 Appropriation bill before the
National Assembly will be passed on Thursday.
The passage of the Public Procurement bills by the upper chamber was
sequel to presentation and consideration of the report of the Senate
Committee on Public Procurement.
The three amendment bills are sponsored by Senators Shuaibu Isah (PDP,
Taraba North); Uche Ekwunife (PDP, Anambra Central); Danladi Sankara
(APC, Jigawa North West).
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Shuaibu Isah Lau (PDP, Taraba
North), in his presentation, said “certain amendments were made on the
bills to encapsulate the ingredients of the varied views collated from
experts and professionals, aimed at adding value to the Procurement
Act.”
The Senate, in a clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, adopted
the recommendations of the committee with slight amendments made to
Section 1 under the Establishment of National Council on Public
Procurement.
The amendment to clause 1 of the bill provides that the Council shall
consist of a Chairman who shall be appointed by the President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, as against the previous provision of the
2007 Act which specifically names the Minister of Finance as Chairman.
The Senate also adopted the committee’s recommendation on the issuance
of Certificate of No Objection which shall be issued by a Committee of
Directors of the Bureau to the chaired by the Director-General of the
Public Procurement Bureau.
Similarly, the upper chamber considered the recommendation of the
committee to review upwards the mobilization fee from 15 percent to 20
percent for local contractors as insufficient.
Accordingly, Section 35 of the Act was amended to provide for not more
than thirty percent mobilization for local contractors.
The amendment for an upward review of thirty-five percent mobilization
for local contractors was initially proposed by Senator Jibrin Barau
(APC, Kano North) and seconded by Ibikunle Amosun (APC, Ogun Central).
The Senate, however, settled for a thirty-percent review moved by
Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South) and seconded by Senator Rose Oko
(PDP, Cross River North).
In his remarks, the Senate President said that the passage of the
Public Procurement Bill will complement the 2020 budget set to be
passed tomorrow by the Senate.
The report of the Senate Committee on Appropriations was laid before
the upper chamber on Wednesday by its Chairman, Senator Jibrin Barau.
According to Lawan, the Public Procurement bill passed by the upper
chamber will be forwarded to the House of Representatives for
concurrence.

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