Contracts: Senate seeks establishment of NASS tenders board

The Senate has directed the immediate establishment of a Tenders Board for the National Assembly as part of measures to ensure transparency in the award of contracts for projects executed for the Legislature.

The board, which is to be constituted by the Clerk to the National Assembly, is mandated to make periodic reporting of its activities to both the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The Senate passed a resolution to set up the board following a motion moved by the Chairman, Senate Services, Senator Sunday Karimi.

The board, which shall supervise Legislative contracts, according to Karimi, is to “reaffirm” the constitutional principle of parliamentary autonomy and the “authority of the National Assembly to regulate its internal administrative and financial affairs.”

Quoting relevant laws, the Kogi-West senator noted that Section 81(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), “guarantees the independence of the National Assembly to regulate its own procedure and internal administration” furtherance of the principle of separation of powers and parliamentary autonomy.

Findings on Thursday indicated that by the new development, the board will consider, evaluate and approve procurement matters and contract awards “within the approved budgetary provisions of the National Assembly and its affiliated institutions.”

In passing the resolution at Thursday’s plenary presided over by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, the Senate directed that “all procurement activities undertaken by the National Assembly be conducted in accordance with the principles of transparency, competitiveness, value for money, accountability and due process, consistent with the constitution and other applicable laws.”

There has been furore over some projects situated in and executed for the National Assembly, including renovation of major infrastructure and furnishing.

The quality of the execution has received unfavorable reviews lately, especially by the Senate, which has summed it up as below the standards of a legislature of the status of the Nigerian National Assembly.

From leaking roofs, malfunctioning audio and multi-media installations to lighting, the legislature has been facing challenges on the outcome of projects, according to investigations.