Public Procurement Strategies for Sustainability: Panacea for Economic Recovery from COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has presented governments with unprecedented challenges in ensuring not only the health of their citizens but also public service continuity. Governments had to purchase vital health products swiftly whilst ensuring smooth and accountable management of ongoing contracts to continue providing public services to the citizens. Certain critical public services and infrastructure industries have a unique responsibility to continue operations even during these unprecedented times. Infrastructure development and public procurement, therefore, are at the frontline of the wider governmental response to the COVID-19 outbreak. This paper identifies needed procurement strategies that guarantees sustainability and ensures efficient economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper being an exploratory study reviews the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world’s economy and Nigeria in particular. The study also reviews theories associated with the subject matter and concludes that greater collaboration between governments andindustries will be needed to ensure minimum disruption in global supply chains that ensures effective economic recovery. We hope that this paper will trigger intellectually stimulating debates, further researches and meaningful actions from individuals, organizations, and societies, both in Nigeria, Africa and beyond in the global fight against COVID-19 and economic recovery.