Contractors found guilty of fraud, corruption, falsification of documents or persistent failure to deliver government contracts may now be barred from participating in Federal Government procurement for up to five years under a new national debarment guideline
The Federal Government has mandated the strict implementation of the National Guideline on Debarment of Contractors, Consultants and Service Providers, as contained in a circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, fnim, CON, with Ref. No. 59780/S.2/B/585, dated August 12, 2026, directing all Accounting Officers in Ministries, Departments and Agencies for full compliance. It stated further that the purpose, as stipulated in the circular is to prevent fraud and corruption in contract delivery by ensuring that contractors who have flouted the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 are promptly reported and excluded from further participation in government procurement for the period specified in the circular.
Sequel to this circular, the Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale A. Adedokun, FCIPS, has clarified that the National Guidelines on Debarment are designed to weed out corrupt, non-performing and fraudulent contractors from the public procurement ecosystem, thereby safeguarding public funds and value-for-money.
Dr. Adedokun emphasised the importance of compliance, stating that with this circular, government will no longer tolerate procuring entities compromising the integrity of public procurement processes. He added that any Accounting Officer or Procuring Entity who bypass the debarment registry or flout the provision of PPA, 2007 will face administrative and legal sanctions
“Moving forward, all procuring entities are mandated to verify compliance,” the DG said.
Among the grounds for debarment are; offering money, gifts or other benefits to influence procurement decisions, providing employment or other financial benefits to procurement officials for improper purposes, conviction for fraud relating to public contracts, falsification of documents and wilful or persistent failure to perform contractual obligations.
The guideline also allows the Federal Government to consider for debarment, contractors already sanctioned by multilateral organisations.
The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) may commence debarment proceedings following findings from its review, surveillance or audit, or based on a properly supported recommendation from a Procuring Entity approved by its Accounting Officer.
The affected contractor must be notified of the allegations and given 10 working days to respond, with provision for a limited extension in appropriate circumstances.
Where the Debarment Committee establishes the case, it may impose a debarment period of between three and five years.
A debarred contractor will be barred from being solicited for or awarded Federal Government contracts and from conducting government business as an agent or representative of another contractor, consultant or service provider.
The name of the debarred entity will also be entered into the BPP database and published on the Bureau’s website, Federal Tenders Journal and other relevant platforms.
The guideline provides for reinstatement after the expiration of the debarment period, subject to an application supported by evidence of reform.
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to transparency, accountability and fiscal discipline in public expenditure, thereby directing All Accounting Officers to ensure that the guideline is brought to the attention of Tenders Boards, Procurement Planning Committees, Procurement Departments and all officers involved in public procurement
Signed:
Ngozi C. Anyaelezu
Ag. Head, Public Relations
Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP)
October 20, 2026
