House of Representatives has expressed dissatisfaction with the 58 million naira as capital allocation in the 2023 budget proposal of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
The Chairman house Committee on public procurement Malam Nasir Ahmed, made the expression when the Director General of the agency appeared to defend the 2023 budget at the National Assembly.
Malam Nasir Ahmed, explained that in view of the significance of the agency to the nation’s growth described it as ridiculous and unacceptable the amount proposed in agency’s capital expenditures.
“You have to make a case for this budget proposal, this amount is too little to run an agency, even if you are working with the envelope system, the onus is on you to make a case.
On his part the chairman house committee on media and public affairs, Mr Benjamin Kalu, described as sabortage the reduction of BPP’s capital from N94 million to N58 million, saying Nigeria remained the loser with the poor budgeting for the bureau.
Ruling on the matter, the committee chairman confirmed that they would meet with members of the Senate committee and see how to invrease the budget of the BPP to enable it perform optimally in the 2023 and beyond.
Earlier, Director General of the BPP Malam Mamman Ahmed, said the bureau had spent N67 million on local training while N129 million on international training in 2022.
He solicited the National Assembly’s intervention towards ensuring an upward review in the 2023 budget of the agency to achieve the set goals.
SALIHU TSIBIRI