IMPACT OF THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT ON THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS IN THE NIGERIAN PUBLIC SECTOR (A CASE STUDY OF KANO STATE DRUG PROCUREMENT SERVING)

ABSTRACT The study seeks to examine the impact of the Public Procurement Act on the procurement process in the Nigerian public sector with reference to Kano State drug procurement services. The study used research survey that involves collecting data via self-administered questionnaires consequently, the researcher designed an open ended and closed ended questions for respondent to answer. The population comprises the Kano State Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA), officials from the Ministry of Health, budget and planning officers, pharmacists, suppliers, and representatives of civil society organizations monitoring public procurement. Thus, the researcher adopted a sample size of 100 respondents, drawn from various relevant departments and institutions involved in drug procurement in Kano State. The study makes use of simple random sampling technique, one of the reasons that it is most often used is due to the numerous advantages it provides. The method of data analysis to be used for this research is simple percentage statistical tools. The study revealed that revealed that compliance with the Public Procurement Act is low, largely due to lack of awareness, insufficient training of procurement officers, weak oversight institutions, and continued interference from political actors. In Kano State, despite the establishment of the Kano State Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA) to oversee drug procurement, challenges such as poor-quality assurance mechanisms, delayed budget releases, and administrative bottlenecks persist. The study recommends that government agencies must ensure full domestication and implementation of the PPA in all states, with appropriate amendments to reflect local contexts where necessary. State level procurement laws must be aligned with federal standards. Therefore, continuous capacity building, certification programs, and professional training should be provided for procurement officers, auditors, and other stakeholders involved in the procurement chain. Digitalizing procurement processes through e-procurement platforms can help reduce corruption, improve recordkeeping, and increase access to procurement data. E-procurement enhances transparency