Press Releases

BPP DG Advocates for Adequate Budget Allocation to Strengthen Procurement Oversight and Reforms

January 17, 2025

L-R: Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Dr. Adebowale A. Adedokun, MCIPS in a warm handshake with the Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Procurement, Sen. Olajide Ipinsagba Emmanuel during the BPP 2025 Budget Defence

The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale A. Adedokun, MCIPS, ACFE, has emphasized the critical role of the Bureau in ensuring transparency, accountability, and efficiency in Nigeria’s public procurement processes. Speaking during the 2025 budget defense session before the Senate Committee on Public Procurement on Thursday, January 16, 2025, in Abuja, Dr. Adedokun highlighted the significant savings of N1.9 trillion achieved through the Bureau’s price intelligence mechanism for contract reviews between 2009 and 2023.

He stated, “Since its establishment in 2007, the Bureau of Public Procurement has played a pivotal role in reforming public procurement in Nigeria, addressing systemic issues such as contract inflation, diversion of public funds, and poor service delivery. Through our efforts and supported revenue growth for key agencies like FIRS, PenCon, NSITF, and ITF. However, to sustain and enhance these achievements, adequate funding is essential.”

The Bureau has proposed a total budget of N72,775,250,713.00 for the 2025 fiscal year. This comprises N9,178,508,213.00 for overhead costs and N63,596,742,500.00 for capital expenditure. The proposed budget aims to address critical challenges, including staff accommodation, replacement of outdated project monitoring vehicles, and the implementation of the e-procurement program to improve efficiency and transparency in the procurement process.

Dr. Adedokun further stressed that reduced funding would hinder the Bureau’s ability to meet its statutory responsibilities under Section 5 of the Public Procurement Act of 2007, which include:

Policy formulation for public procurement in Nigeria.
Auditing the procurement activities of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure compliance.
Investigating and sanctioning infractions of the Act to promote accountability.

The Bureau has also been at the forefront of public procurement reforms aimed at restoring confidence in the Federal Government’s contracting processes. These reforms address mismanagement and inefficiencies in public contracts, ensuring better value for money and fostering trust among stakeholders.

During the session, Senator Olajide Ipinsagba Emmanuel (Ondo North), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Procurement, commended the Bureau’s achievements but raised concerns about its workforce capacity. “How can BPP, with just 158 workers, effectively oversee contract awards and execution across over 800 government agencies?” he asked. He urged the BPP to increase its staff strength and include the necessary overheads to accommodate new employees.

The Senate Committee reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the BPP in achieving its objectives and addressing the challenges it faces.

The Bureau of Public Procurement remains a critical stakeholder in Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive and economic growth, ensuring that public funds are utilized efficiently and transparently for the benefit of all Nigerians.