The Network for Fiscal Governance and Accountability Development has called for sweeping reforms to Nigeria’s public procurement system following the outcome of a nationwide digital perception survey.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its Country Head of Office, Akingunola Omoniyi, the procurement advocacy group said the survey exposed persistent gaps in transparency, accountability and oversight.
The organisation said the survey, conducted among civil society organisations, contractors, consultants, procurement professionals and service providers, highlighted the need for urgent reforms to restore public confidence and improve value for public resources.
The statement reads, “63.6 per cent of respondents said accessing procurement opportunities published by government agencies was difficult or very difficult, suggesting that many qualified businesses continue to face barriers in participating in government contracts.
“The survey also found that only 40.9 per cent of respondents considered public procurement processes transparent or very transparent, while 54.6 per cent said procurement opportunities were rarely or never advertised fairly and openly.”
