Director General of Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr Adebowale A. Adedokun has advised procurement officers in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to adhere to procurement principles.
Dr Adedokun gave the advice at a stakeholders’ meeting on the effective implementation of procurement policy in line with the Newly Revised Service-wide Prior Review and Monetary threshold held at the State House Auditorium, Presidential Villa Abuja.
He said that every procurement officer must be held accountable for wrongful procurement practices even as he insisted that the right things must be done to enable economic growth and national development.
According to him, “The biggest protection for procurement officers is ‘do the right thing, and you will be protected’ because rightful procurement guarantees the growth of our economy and national growth, as well as benefits posterity.”
Dr. Adedokun said the purpose of the interactive session between BPP and procurement stakeholders in the MDAs was to create more awareness on implementation of the current procurement policies, design a way forward for the procurement cadre in line with the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for national development and facilitate transparent and efficient budget execution.
He said that BPP, as a regulatory entity, “shall henceforth enforce the use of Open Competitive Bidding as a default method of procurement.”
In addition, the DG said that BPP would issue guidelines on the appropriate use of restricted tendering, direct procurement, direct labour and emergency procurement methods; and focus more on procurement reviews, procurement audit, surveillance and monitoring; and virtual tenders board meetings.
The DG stated that BPP had the responsibility to harmonise all government policies and practices of public procurement, and give guidelines on the implementation of the revised thresholds and measures to guard against abuse.
He said that MDAs shall henceforth submit quarterly procurement progress report for joint monitoring by BPP and the central results delivery coordination unit; adopt the revised standard bidding documents for all procurement processes under the new revised thresholds; and collaborate with relevant stakeholders and investigative agencies to increase procurement audit and surveillance to enforce compliance.
The DG said that the standstill period of 14 days should be adhered to, while monthly publication of details of all contract awards on the website of the procuring entity as well as the Bureau’s website was compulsory.
Dr. Adedokun urged all ministries/extra-ministerial bodies, parastatals, agencies, and government-owned companies to ensure strict adherence to the stipulated procurement timelines for efficient and timely budget implementation.
The DG took the opportunity of the interactive session to explain that posting of procurement officers in MDAs would be done by the Bureau and warned that, henceforth, canvassing for posting to officers’ preferred location would not be tolerated.
He said that the movement of procurement directors and heads of procurement alongside their preferred subordinates to a new location after posting should be discontinued, as all officers should be given the opportunity to grow in service.
Dr Adedokun stated that sanctions would be meted out to anyone that acted contrary to procurement principles and guidelines, even as he assured that the Bureau was ready to provide necessary support, including capacity building and timely response to some challenges encountered in the course of duties.
The DG assured all stakeholders that BPP would carry out continuous engagement with stakeholders at different levels from time to time, and that the Bureau was looking forward to meeting with other levels of Procurement Officers, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Media Professionals (Journalists) in the nearest future.
Signed
Zira Zakka Nagga
Head of Public Relations (BPP)
19th June, 2025
