Lawmakers To Amend Procurement Act To Push Nigerian Goods Patronage

 

The Senate and the House of Representatives are considering the amendment of the Procurement Act to ensure that as a matter of law, agencies of government patronise made in Nigeria goods as a first option policy.

The Senate is also asking the Federal Government to initiate and implement the first option policy on purchase of locally manufactured products for any government procurement in all arms of government and every public funded organisation.

When you walk into any super market in Nigeria, most products on the shelves are imported.

Over 95 per cent of the vehicles on the streets of Nigeria are also imported and this is the case with almost every other thing consumed in the oil-rich nation.

Raising the issue at plenary on Wednesday, Senator Enyinaya Abaribe, expressed worries that Nigeria had consistently consumed what it does not produce, a situation he said had a dire consequences for the economy.

Senator Abaribe said sensitising Nigerians to consume made in Nigeria products alone was not enough, emphasising that a law was needed to enforce the purchase of made in Nigeria goods.

He stressed the need for the government to also put in place policies that would encourage local producers.

At the end of the debate on the issue, the Senate urged the Federal Government to initiate and implement the first option policy on purchase of locally manufactured products for government procurement in all arms of government and every public funded organisation.

The Senate also said that part of moves to address the issue would be the amendment of the Procurement Act.