The Bureau of Public Procurement and the Fiscal Responsibility Commission have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen collaboration and promote good governance in Nigeria.

The director-general of the agency, Adebowale Adedokun, disclosed this in a statement by Zira Nagga, head of press and public relations at the BPP, in Abuja on Monday.

According to Mr Adedokun, the partnership is aimed at boosting transparency, curbing corruption and reducing wastage in government procurement processes across the country.

He reiterated that the bureau was part of the anti-corruption group assigned by Bola Tinubu to curb corrupt practices in the country.

”The MoU will strengthen shared responsibility in supporting the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda and ensure the judicious utilisation of government funds at the three tiers of government,” he said.

He said the collaboration would also ensure that government spending remained within constitutional limits and within the regulations issued by the bureau.

The director general highlighted key initiatives introduced by the bureau to promote transparency and accountability, including the digitisation of procurement processes effective March 1 and community-based procurement.

Others, he said, were the Nigeria First policy, the debarment policy, and affirmative procurement for women, youths, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and persons living with disabilities.

Mr Adedokun added that through its reform programmes and price benchmarking mechanisms, the bureau had saved almost one trillion Naira for the nation in less than one year.

Similarly, the FRC chairman, Victor Muruako, commended Mr Adedokun’s leadership and described the MoU as a strategic step toward strengthening fiscal discipline in the country.

Mr Muruako restated the importance of transparency and accountability in public procurement, noting that prudence at all levels of government would reduce cases of corruption.

He described the signing of the MoU as one of his landmark decisions as he prepares to conclude his tenure as chairman of the commission.

He also advocated the establishment of a strong, effective mechanism to further strengthen procurement processes within the nation’s fiscal regime.

The MoU was signed during a working visit by the BPP boss to the FRC chairman in Abuja.

(NAN)