Determined to maintain the integrity of the procurement process, the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, is collaborating with Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies in the country.
Besides, the Bureau would soon publish a revised list of Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, that the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, could invite to observe procurement processes.
Director-General of BPP, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, made the disclosure, on Monday, in Abuja, at a one-day national stakeholders’ interactive workshop with CSOs in Nigeria on the current trends in procurement practices and the roles of the organisations in procurement reforms.
The workshop was declared open by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who was represented by a director in the ministry, Suleiman Haruna.
Adedokun explained that the inter-agency collaboration was aimed at deploying effective corruption prevention mechanisms towards strengthening the fight against corruption in public procurement and public finance management system.
His words: “Our resolve to further strengthen the integrity of the public procurement system in Nigeria remains unshaken.
“We have ramped up our collaboration and working relationship with anti-corruption agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation, Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency initiative, Code of Conduct Bureau, and Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.
“This inter-agency collaboration is aimed at strengthening the fight against corruption in the public procurement and the public finance management system at large, through effective corruption prevention mechanism.
“This reform is not limited to the federal system, but is being extended to the sub-national through our partnerships with the State Government Public Procurement Regulatory Authorities and the Association of Local Government of Nigeria.”
He explained that the workshop was not only about identifying problems; but also building partnerships for sustainable solutions.
“Together, we can create a public procurement system that truly serves the interests of all Nigerians—one that is transparent, efficient, and free from corruption,” he stated.
He said the workshop was a critical platform for dialogue, collaboration, and capacity building, stressing that the bureau was exploring the current trends in procurement practices and the indispensable roles of civil society organisations in advancing procurement reforms in Nigeria.
The DG described public procurement as a cornerstone of governance and economic development, which, according to him, accounted for a significant portion of public expenditure and served as a strategic tool for achieving national development goals.
He said that the recent introduction of digital platforms like the Nigeria Open Contracting Portal, NOCOPO, had further enhanced openness and accessibility in procurement processes despite the persisting challenges.
The BPP boss said CSOs were critical stakeholders in the journey to transparent procurement system, adding that as watchdogs and advocates for good governance, “CSOs play a vital role in monitoring procurement processes, ensuring compliance with regulations, and holding public officials accountable.”
He said: “Your active participation can help bridge gaps in transparency and foster trust between government institutions and citizens. Other evolving roles of CSOs are but not limited to Advocacy and Awareness, Capacity Building of key actors, Research and Analysis, Social Audits, Community mobilization, Engaging in policy dialogue, Deployment of technical tools, Enhancing public trust, Supporting sustainable development, etc.
“This workshop is designed to equip you with insights into emerging trends in procurement practices while emphasising your roles as partners in reform. Together, we can build a procuremen system that not only meets global standards but also delivers tangible benefits to all Nigerians.”
Continuing, he said: “Public procurement is more than a technical function—it is a strategic enabler of national development through the effective delivery of Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda. By ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of public resources, we directly contribute to economic growth, social equity, and sustainable development.”
The Bureau promised to publish a revised list of CSOs that MDAs can invite to observe procurement processes. To ensure compliance, an appropriate circular wil be issued, which will direct all MDAs to send a request to the BPP to engage CSOs as observers for bid opening immediately after advertisements are published.
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