Influence of the features and encounters affecting PPA, 2007 on implementation in tertiary institutions in Bauchi State, Nigeria

Public Procurement Act 2007 (PPA, 2007) embraces the prevailing public procurement legal framework in Nigeria passed in 2007 to reinforce competition among procurement practitioners, ensure strict observance to due process in public expenditure, block wastages and outflows of public funds arising from public contracts, and certify that the core procurement principles of accountability, clearness, honesty, equality, economy, and competition is achieved in public institutions in Nigeria. As such, this study aimed to evaluating the features and encounters on the implementation of the PPA, 2007 in tertiary institutions in Bauchi State. The study adopted quantitative approach using descriptive and exploratory design. Data were collected through questionnaire survey from 80 respondents using purposive sampling. The data collected were subjected to analysis using mean ranking to identify the features, encounters and the level of implementation of PPA, 2007. Also, multiple regression was been used to assess the influence of the features and encounters affecting PPA, 2007 on implementation. The study revealed that the features and encounters are highly significant with 52% and 56% effect size on the dependent variable. Also, the study indicated that implementation of PPA, 2007 and enforcement usage in the study area is moderate. Thus, the study recommends that PPA, 2007 be amended in such a way that appointment of procurement officers in all public institutions be clearly stated in terms of appointment criteria such as profession, academic qualification, and professional experience and qualifications. The result perhaps, will help eradicate the culture of having non-professionals with no procurement related expertise being saddled with the responsibility of coordinating procurement activities and processes in the public in institutions in Nigeria.