Examination of the Strategies Put in Place by Lagos State Public Procurement Agency in the Implementation of Public Procurement Law

Abstract

This paper examined the strategies put in place by Lagos State Public Procurement Agency in the application of public procurement policy. The paper adopted both primary and secondary sources of data, and primary data were collected via the administration of questionnaires on the respondents. Study population of 1,020 comprised the members of staff from ministries, and agency that supervises the execution of procurement policy in the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency (LSPPA). Proportionate random sampling method was adopted in selecting a sample size of 154 respondents representing 15% of the study population. Secondary data were got from books, academic journals, official document of LSPPA and the internet. Data collected were analysed using percentage, frequency, and (RII) Relative Importance Index. The results of the study revealed that the strategies put in place by Lagos State Public Procurement Agency; such as establishment of a threshold (52.6%, rank 7th), constitution of contract performance audit committee (63%, rank 9.5th), supervision of the deliveries (69.5%, rank 9.5th), and creation of a procurement officer’s desk (57.8%, rank 8th) were not adequately substantial strategies put in place in monitoring the execution of public procurement policy in Lagos state. Moreover, the paper revealed strategies that were mostly substantial which were put in place by Lagos State Public Procurement Agency in the implementation of public procurement law, such as composition of technical review committee (79.9%, rank 1st), appraisal of procurement plan for procuring entities (73.3%, rank 2nd), setting of fair pricing standards and benchmarks (61%, rank 6th), strategic oversight on the contracts (65.6%, rank 5th), keeping of contractors’ database for proper identification (65.6%, rank 4th), publication of details of major contracts in the State (69.5%, rank 3rd) significantly improved accountability, proficiency, efficacy among the ministries selected. The study therefore, concludes that the strategies put in place by LSPPA, Lagos State Public Procurement Agency in the implementation of public procurement law in the state is considerable, and appropriate which ensures that procurement law of the State is followed. It was further evident from six claims affirmation as against four claims that refuted it respectively.