FG Introduces Mandatory Certification For Equipment Leasing Contracts

The federal government has announced the enforcement of the Equipment Leasing Registration Authority (ELRA) Certificate as a mandatory eligibility criterion for all public procurement processes involving the leasing of equipment.

The directive was officially communicated through a circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, FNIM, CON, with Ref. No. 59780/S.2/B/584, dated 12 August 2026.

The circular mandated all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and procuring entities to make evidence of registration with ELRA a mandatory requirement for public procurement processes involving the leasing, hiring or provision of equipment. The measure is aimed at strengthening transparency, efficiency, value for money and professionalism in public procurement and equipment leasing practices.

The Acting Head of Public Relations at the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Ngozi C. Anyaelezu, stated on Thursday that the federal government had further directed MDAs to incorporate compliance with the registration of lease agreements, in line with Section 13 of the Equipment Leasing Act, 2015, as an additional eligibility and responsiveness criterion for bids involving equipment leasing.

“In line with the provisions of this circular, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Dr Adebowale A. Adedokun, FCIPS, has called on all MDAs and procuring entities to ensure full compliance with this requirement in their procurement activities, as the circular is intended to strengthen regulatory compliance, promote safety and quality standards, and eliminate unregistered and unregulated equipment leasing practices within public procurement.

“Dr Adedokun emphasised that, in accordance with the SGF’s circular, advertisements and solicitation documents for new projects and programmes, including prequalification exercises, financial bids and combined procurement exercises, are expected to clearly specify the requirement for prospective bidders involved in equipment leasing to submit evidence of ELRA registration,” Anyaelezu stated.

All MDAs, prospective government contractors and procuring entities have therefore been directed to give the circular wide circulation and ensure strict compliance, with appropriate administrative and regulatory sanctions to be applied for non-compliance.