Centre Lauds BPP For Enhancing Procurement Integrity

The Centre for Public Accountability (CPA) has commended the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) for what it described as significant strides in strengthening procurement integrity, transparency and accountability across Nigeria’s public sector.

The commendation followed the release of the organisation’s Independent Service Delivery Assessment Report on selected government institutions, with a special focus on the Bureau of Public Procurement under the leadership of its Director-General, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, the Executive Director of the CPA, Comrade Olufemi Lawson, said the Bureau has demonstrated strong commitment to reforming Nigeria’s procurement system through innovative policies, institutional reforms and digital transformation initiatives aimed at promoting good governance and prudent management of public resources.

According to him, the assessment was conducted over several months and involved stakeholder consultations, policy reviews, institutional observations and evaluation of measurable outcomes within the procurement sector.

Lawson noted that the Bureau has introduced a number of reforms that have strengthened compliance with due process and improved public confidence in procurement administration.

Among the key achievements highlighted by the group was the establishment of a National Debarment Policy, which provides a framework for sanctioning fraudulent, unethical and non-performing contractors.

He said the policy represents a major step towards protecting public resources and promoting accountability in the award and execution of government contracts.

The CPA also praised the Bureau for introducing revised Standard Bidding Documents across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), describing the initiative as a measure that has enhanced transparency, reduced opportunities for manipulation and improved fairness in the procurement process.

According to the report, the BPP’s migration to an electronic submission system has further improved operational efficiency by reducing physical bottlenecks, limiting human interference and enhancing transparency in procurement approvals.

Lawson stated that the Bureau’s digital transformation efforts align with global best practices and have contributed significantly to strengthening procurement governance in the country.

He further commended the agency for establishing a Price Intelligence and Benchmarking System, which has reportedly generated savings estimated at over N1.1 trillion through real-time price verification and the elimination of inflated contract quotations.

“The reforms introduced by the Bureau are helping to strengthen procurement integrity and ensure greater value for public funds. These initiatives demonstrate a commitment to transparency, efficiency and accountability in government spending,” Lawson said.

The CPA also acknowledged efforts by the Bureau to professionalise procurement practice through training and certification programmes for procurement officers across the public service.

According to the organisation, more than 4,000 procurement officers have benefited from capacity-building programmes, while over 2,700 have been certified under the National Procurement Certification Programme.

Lawson added that initiatives such as the Nigeria First Policy Framework, contractor classification systems, sector-specific procurement frameworks and efforts to promote local content have further strengthened the procurement landscape.

The organisation also called on the National Assembly to fast-track consideration of proposed amendments to the Public Procurement Act to further strengthen accountability mechanisms and institutionalise digital procurement systems.

It maintained that sustaining the current reform momentum would help enhance transparency, curb corruption and improve service delivery across government institutions.