The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) formally inaugurated a Joint Planning Committee to organise the 2026 Federal Permanent Secretaries’ Retreat, slated for Thursday, July 9 to Sunday July 12, 2026.
The inauguration, held during a strategic meeting of senior officials from both institutions, marks the revival of a longstanding tradition of collaboration between BPP and OHCSF, aimed at strengthening procurement capacity and governance at the highest level of the Federal Civil Service.
In his address, the Director General/Chief Executive Officer of BPP, Dr. Adebowale A. Adedokun, FCIPS, lauded the Head of Service, Mrs. Didi Esther Watson-Jack, OON, for her transformational leadership and for consistently prioritising procurement as a cornerstone for effective public service delivery.
Dr. Adedokun emphasised the critical role of Permanent Secretaries as Accounting Officers, noting that more than 80% of government expenditure is channelled through procurement processes. “There is a long-standing synergy between BPP and the Office of the Head of Service,” he stated. “This collaboration has strengthened procurement practice across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and has given the President the confidence to drive far-reaching reforms, “ the DG added.
He further stressed the strategic importance of the Retreat, saying that “Implementation of government policy resides with Permanent Secretaries and without a clear understanding of procurement processes at that level, government cannot function effectively”.
The retreat provides the forum where challenges can be identified, solutions debated, and alignment achieved.
Highlighting the urgency of this year’s Retreat, the BPP’s DG noted that the 2025/2026 budget is already in implementation, making it imperative to quickly address bottlenecks inhibiting service delivery. “If there is any point in time to interrogate the challenges affecting implementation, it is now. This edition must not only be the best organised in terms of logistics but must also deliver measurable impact within the public service,” Dr. Adedokun added.
Representing the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Danjuma Usman Kalba, the Permanent Secretary, Common Service Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, welcomed the renewed partnership and underscored the Retreat’s role in equipping Permanent Secretaries to ensure that scarce public resources deliver optimal value for money.
In a strong affirmation of commitment, the PS, CSO, Dr. Kalba assured the committee of round-the-clock support: “Our operating mantra is clear – there is no sleep. We will work tirelessly with BPP to deliver a retreat that meets the expectations of the body of permanent secretaries and the Nigerian people,” He stated.
The Federal Permanent Secretaries’ Retreat has been convened intermittently since 2008 as a high-level platform to deepen procurement knowledge, address systemic implementation challenges, and reinforce collaboration between BPP and the body of Permanent Secretaries who oversee MDAs and parastatals across government. The 2026 edition is expected to set a new benchmark for strategic engagement and results-driven outcomes with a view to achieving the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda goals.
e-Signed:
Zira Zakka Nagga
Head of Press and Public Relations (BPP)
19th June, 2026
