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ABUJA – The Centre for Public Accountability (CPA) has expressed strong confidence in the ongoing reforms at the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), describing the agency as one of the leading examples of institutional transformation and public sector innovation in Nigeria.
Presenting the findings of the organisation’s Independent Service Delivery Assessment Report on selected government institutions at a media conference in Abuja, on Saturday, the Executive Director of CPA, Comrade Olufemi Lawson, said the Bureau, under the leadership of its Director-General, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, has demonstrated exceptional commitment to repositioning Nigeria’s public procurement system in line with global best practices.
According to Lawson, the assessment, which involved months of stakeholder engagements, policy reviews, institutional observations and analysis of measurable outcomes, found that the BPP had embarked on some of the most ambitious procurement reforms since the enactment of the Public Procurement Act, 2007.
He stated that, “Public procurement remains one of the most critical components of governance globally. It is through procurement that governments execute projects, deliver infrastructure, provide social services and stimulate economic growth.
“Historically, procurement administration in Nigeria has faced challenges ranging from inflated contracts and abuse of due process to weak oversight mechanisms, contractor fraud and institutional inefficiencies.
“Against this backdrop, our organisation undertook a rigorous and independent assessment of the Bureau of Public Procurement with emphasis on institutional reforms, operational efficiency, policy innovation, digital transformation, transparency mechanisms and contributions to national development objectives.
“We are pleased to report that the Bureau under the current leadership has demonstrated significant commitment towards repositioning Nigeria’s procurement ecosystem.”
The CPA report highlighted the Bureau’s successful revision of procurement thresholds and operational guidelines, noting that the reforms have reduced bureaucratic bottlenecks, accelerated procurement timelines and improved administrative efficiency across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Lawson explained that the revised procurement framework has brought greater clarity to approval processes and significantly reduced delays that previously hindered the implementation of government projects.
The report also commended the introduction of revised Standard Bidding Documents across MDAs, describing the initiative as a major step towards improving transparency, procedural uniformity and fairness in public procurement.
“The deployment of clear and standardised bidding templates has enhanced competition among contractors, strengthened accountability and reduced opportunities for manipulation and abuse within the procurement process,” Lawson said.
On the Bureau’s Nigeria First Policy Framework, the CPA Executive Director said the initiative represents a strategic intervention aimed at promoting local content development, supporting indigenous businesses and stimulating economic growth.
“We commend the Bureau for developing a procurement framework that prioritises local manufacturers, Small and Medium Enterprises, women-owned businesses and indigenous service providers.
“This policy aligns with Nigeria’s economic diversification objectives and possesses immense potential for industrial growth, job creation and economic inclusion,” he noted.
The CPA further identified the establishment of the National Debarment Policy as one of the most significant reforms introduced by the Bureau.
“For the first time in Nigeria’s procurement history, there now exists an enforceable sanctions regime designed to address the activities of non-performing, fraudulent and unethical contractors.
“We consider this reform a major deterrent against procurement fraud and a significant step towards safeguarding public resources,” Lawson said.
The report also praised the restoration of the administrative mobility function of procurement officers to the Bureau, noting that the move has strengthened professionalism, enhanced institutional independence and improved compliance within government establishments.
On contract administration, CPA commended the introduction of a policy requiring all contract variations to receive Bureau approval before implementation.
“This reform addresses one of the longstanding loopholes in public procurement where arbitrary and inflated contract variations often resulted in massive cost escalations on government projects.
“It is a critical accountability mechanism that will strengthen fiscal discipline and project management,” Lawson stated.
