Senate President, Bukola Saraki has said 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.

Accordingly, he asked Senate Committee Chairmen to ensure in the course of their oversight duties that MDAs comply with the provision of the law on patronage of local manufacturers.

He 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 been giving to the Buy Made in Nigeria campaign.

The senate president also urged all military and para-military agencies to emulate the Army by procuring items like booths and other needs locally.

Responding to the welcome address by the  co-ordinator of the Association, Chief Ben Hart, Saraki said the government spends more than N2 Trillion annually in the purchase of goods, and that the  aim of the Senate is 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.

His words: “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.

“I have a promise from the House of Representatives that they will soon pass the same law. Government agencies must necessarily and compulsorily  patronise locally made goods.  It has started with order made for booths by the Army.  If the Army are doing that, I also challenge all the other agencies to follow suit.

“I challenge all the Senate committee chairmen here to ensure that all the other agencies, whether it is Air force, Navy, Customs,  even the Road Safety, Civil Defence, NYSC must follow suit. We should include that as part of the conditions when they come to defend their 2017 budget.  They must show evidence that they patronise and purchase locally made goods.

“I commend your persistence such that over the years you have been there, giving your support to the growth of the economy government. With little or no assistance,  you continued to demonstrate that you have the capacity to produce different high quality goods for the use of Nigerians.