FG Support For Local Content Policy “ll Strengthen Naira, Create Jobs
BY CHINYERE OBIORA, LAGOS – The Director of Regulatory and Database, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Aliyu Aliyu says Federal Government stanch support for the local content policy in public procurement will strengthen the Naira, create jobs and expand the country’s entrepreneurial capacity.
Aliyu said such unwavering support would not only lead to greater and healthy competition among local manufacturers and service providers, but also drive down cost as well as improve quality.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ workshop on executive order 03 on local content policy in Lagos, Aliyu said government is committed to the made-in-Nigeria initiative as part of measures to increase demand for locally manufactured goods and services in the country.
He said it is important to promote economic diversification and boost non-oil export in the face of current global economic realities, adding that promoting local industry will indeed stimulate the national economy for sustainable growth.
The BPP Director said stipulations in the executive order shows that made-in-Nigeria products shall be given overwhelming preference in the procurement of local items like uniforms and foot wear, food and beverages, motor vehicles, pharmaceuticals, construction material among others.
According to him, the order states that at least 40 per cent of these items procured by Federal MDAs shall be locally manufactured goods or local service providers.
In her remarks, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Ms Aisha Abubakar said Executive Order 03 on local content would generally encourage patronage of locally manufactured goods and services in Nigeria.
She said the policy means that all MDAs shall grant preference in the procurement of made-in-Nigeria products with at least 40 per cent of manufactured goods and services.
She said this would bring huge opportunity for all businesses in the country to bid for government procurement, stressing that it was necessary for Nigerian businesses to provide a veritable statement as part of their documentation for bidding process to prove the authenticity and quality of the goods to be purchased by MDAs.
She however explained that this verifiable statement, which was the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCap) certificate issued by Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has also upgraded its process, adding that the issuance of mancap is now 60 days for qualifying SMEs.
