The National Coordinator of Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative, PRADIN, Mr. Mohammed Bougei Attah, has spoken, in response to series of questions bordering on corruption in procurement in Nigeria.
Attah who is a procurement professional by certification gave this brief answer during an interactive session with journalists at a National Policy Dialogue on the Solid Mineral Sector
He said there have been series of questions by many who think the practice of procurement and supply chain management is an all-comers affairs. He therefore debunked the claim and said “Purchasing and Supply Chain Management, otherwise known as procurement is a profession declared by an Act of Parliament of June 2007”
Attah therefore referenced the provision that a procurement professional is a purchasing and supply chain practitioner clearly defined by law in Section 20 of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria, CIPSMN Act 2007 as “any qualified member of CIPSMN who is into practice or employed by any organisation, ministry, corporation and engaged in purchasing, supply, procurement, logistics, materials and warehouse management.
He further supported the claim with S.60 (Interpretation) of the CIPSMN Act 2007 as “general coordination of activities that involves procurement, purchasing, stores, warehousing, logistics, materials and supply management.
In his review, he obliged the public that the above two definitions explains that having a law, engineering, architectural or other degrees does not make someone a procurement professional.
Attah .also advised the general public to take note of section 11(9) which states that “a person shall not be entitled to be appointed the Head of any Purchasing and Supply Management of any organisation unless he or she is a member of CIPSMN qualified by examinations”.
He warned therefore that it is a criminal offence for a lawyer, engineer, doctor etc who is not registered with the CIPSMN to accept appointment for salary as Head of Procurement, purchasing and supply management establishment like the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP. Sections 16(2) AND 16(4) the CIPSMN Act 2007 above are very clear on this.
