President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved 23 major procurement reforms aimed at automating processes, reducing human interference, and minimising corruption risk in the award of public contracts, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) announced on Tuesday.
The reforms, unveiled at the inaugural Public Procurement Day held at the Afreximbank Africa Trade Centre in Abuja, include a revised threshold for contract approvals, a digital submission system for procurement plans, a debarment policy for erring contractors, and a “Nigerian First Policy” mandating Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to prioritise locally assembled vehicles and other locally made goods over imports.
Other reforms introduced include community-based procurement, sector-based procurement, affirmative procurement policies, academic mainstreaming through the SPESSE programme, revised standard bidding documents, and a standstill period policy to allow for pre-award reviews.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General of BPP, Dr. Adebowale Abraham Adedokun, said the President had provided unwavering executive support characterised by “a principled stance of non-interference and a strict, unyielding insistence that all MDAs must completely comply with due process.”
“Since my resumption as Director-General, Mr. President has extended his absolute and unwavering executive support,” Adedokun said. “Reforms without accountability will not succeed. Public procurement must be governed by rules and consequences for violation.”
The DG recalled that Nigeria’s procurement reform journey began with the establishment of the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit (BMPIU) under former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The Bureau of Public Procurement was later created through the enactment of the Public Procurement Act of 2007 by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
Adedokun said one of the major milestones in the current reform wave is the review of procurement thresholds across the Federal Public Service to reflect present economic realities. The new thresholds, he explained, have significantly unburdened the Federal Executive Council from routine contract approvals, accelerating budget implementation.
The event also featured the unveiling of a digital ecosystem and modern procurement platforms designed to automate operational processes. According to the BPP, the digital system reduces human interference and minimises the risk of corruption.
The pioneer Director-General of BPP, Dr. Emeka Eze, called for stronger enforcement and sanctions against erring officials and contractors. He also urged frequent integrity assessments for procurement officers and appealed to the President to declare every June 4 as National Procurement Day.
“We need a national consensus on how to spend public funds,” Eze said.
The Permanent Secretary of the General Services Office in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, who represented the SGF, said transparency remained at the heart of the administration’s reforms.
“The ultimate goal is ensuring value for money, strengthening accountability, and delivering quality services that directly improve the lives of Nigerians,” Kana said.
The event brought together policymakers, stakeholders, and development partners to assess years of reforms and chart a new direction for future governance. Awards were also presented to outstanding pioneer staff members of the Bureau.
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