The federal government has directed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) still carrying out procurement processes for projects under the 2024 Appropriation to conclude them by the end of September 2025.
The directive was contained in a brief from the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to President Bola Tinubu for the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting which was read by the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris to State House correspondents after the council meeting on Wednesday.
According to the brief, more than 70 MDAs are yet to conclude procurement activities for 2024 projects, despite the fact that the budgetary year should have lapsed in December 2024.
Although the law was extended to allow full implementation, the BPP noted that it is now over 20 months after passage, warning that delays could lead to unnecessary liabilities for the government.
The BPP also recommended President Tinubu obtain a comprehensive overview of all projects awarded by ministers and their respective ministries.
To this end, it asked that lists of projects under the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years from each ministry and its parastatals be forwarded for review, in line with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation’s (SGF) circular on project reporting.
Reiterating the administration’s “Nigeria First” policy, the brief urged MDAs to prioritise the use of locally made goods and services in all projects.
It stressed, however, that such goods and services must meet international standards and be certified by relevant government authorities.
The BPP, working with the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit, will monitor compliance, with details to be sent to the Presidency for further action.
On the 2025 budget cycle, the BPP advised ministers to ensure that a significant number of projects are procured through the Open Competitive Bidding Method to boost job creation and poverty reduction.
The brief further recommended that the Director-General of the BPP be included in all teams negotiating bilateral loans for infrastructure projects, to ensure that procurement decisions and costings are guided by professional input.
It also raised concerns over non-compliance with the Public Procurement Act by some government-owned companies and enterprises, despite the Finance Act 2020 stipulating adherence.
The BPP warned that such disregard has led to financial recklessness in some entities, calling for strict enforcement to align all procurement with the law.
