By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

ABUJA—SENATE

President, Bukola Saraki, yesterday, threatened that the Senate will take up the case against any ministry, department or agency of government violating the Public Procurement law which compels them to give preference to locally produced goods in Nigeria.

He also charged Senate committee chairmen to ensure in the course of their oversight duties that MDAs complied with the provision of the law on patronage of local manufacturers as he also urged all military and para-military agencies to emulate the Army by procuring items as booths and other needs locally.

Saraki spoke when members of the Leather and Allied Products Manufacturers Association of Abia State, LEAPMAAS, visited him to express appreciation for the constant support he and the Senate had given to the Buy Made in Nigeria campaign.

While responding to the welcome address by the co-ordinator of the Association, Chief Ben Hart, Saraki said the government spent more than N2 trillion anually to purchase goods, and that the aim of the

Senate was to ensure that a large chunk of the funds go into the pocket of Nigerian manufacturers.

He advised local manufacturers to petition the Senate where they feel a government agency is deliberating denying them the opportunity to sell their goods as he said the law making institution was ready to take up such cases.

“I commend you for your determination and creativity. When I came for your trade fair in Abuja earlier in the year, I promised you that with the support of my colleagues here in the Senate, we will make the campaign to buy Made in Nigeria go beyond a trade fair and become a national agenda for all Nigerians.

“Today, we have made it a national project. I also promised you that we will amend the existing
law to give your efforts a solid legal backing that will ensure patronage for your products and that of other local manufacturers. That has also been done with the amendment of the Public Procurement
Act.”