…As D-G BPP says Nigeria-First policy reducing FG vehicles expenditure
Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief
President Bola Tinubu has directed Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to strictly adhere to procurement guidelines in the award of contracts.
The Director-General (D-G) of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Mr. Adebowale Adedokun, disclosed this at the Procurement Day Celebration, in Abuja, yesterday.
He said, “Since my resumption as Director-General, Mr. President has extended his absolute and unwavering executive support, characterised by a principled stance of non-interference and a strict, unyielding insistence that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) must completely comply with due process.
“With the President’s unwavering support, we have advanced reforms that are reshaping procurement in Nigeria.
“Since assuming office as the DG, our administration has pursued an ambitious reform agenda to deepen transparency, improve efficiency, promote digital transformation, strengthen compliance, enhance professionalisation, while expanding economic opportunities for indigenous enterprises.”
Rigid Variation Controls
Mr. Adedokun also said that President Tinubu has directed that all contract variations must be explicitly reviewed and approved by the BPP to curtail fiscal inflation.
Nigeria First Policy
One key reform of his administration, the D-G said, was the Nigeria-First Policy under which MDAs are mandated to purchase only locally assembled auto-mobiles and other goods, in preference over imported items.
That policy, he said, has significantly reduced federal government’s annual expenditures on vehicles.
Mr. Adedokun said the policy has was being expanded to include textiles, garment and solar energy.
Reviewed approval threshold unburdens FEC
The D-G added that One of the major milestones recorded under this reform programme has been the review of procurement thresholds across the Federal Public Service.
“These revised thresholds were introduced to reflect present economic realities, inflationary pressures, changing market conditions, and the need to accelerate budget implementation.
“Crucially, as a direct consequence of these upwardly revised thresholds, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has been significantly unburdened from routine contract approvals.
“The FEC rarely meets to deliberate on contract awards anymore, shifting its executive focus instead toward high-level policy discussions and strategic national governance.”
He explained that by delegating more procurement responsibilities to appropriate Ministerial and Parastatal Tenders Boards and Accounting Officers, the government has significantly reduced unnecessary bottlenecks while preserving transparency and accountability.
“The objective is simple. Procurement processes must remain compliant, but they must also be responsive, efficient and capable of supporting timely project delivery,” he said.
Sanctions for infractions
Mr. Adedokun revealed that his team has strengthened compliance enforcement, as according, “reform without accountability cannot succeed.
“Public procurement must be governed not only by rules but also by consequences for violations. We have, therefore, reinforced monitoring mechanisms and compliance reviews across procuring entities.”
MDAs’ contracts reports
The BPP boos said that the organisation has enhanced MDAs disclosures by enforcing the mandatory monthly publication of contract awards alongside comprehensive quarterly performance reports by all of them.
Debarment Policy
He said a debarment policy has been put in place to safeguard public integrity by decisively sanctioning and blacklisting erring contractors.
Market Intelligence
The D-G said that his administration was deploying price intelligence and benchmarking strategies
market analysis tools to safeguard public funds and ensure maximum value-for-money.
On professionalism, he said the BBP was in collaboration with six universities that now offer courses in procurement and standardsing certification metrics for officer validation and skill development.
Mr. Adedokun revealed that the Bureau would engage State Governments to extend the frontiers of procurement reforms to include the lower tiers of government.
In a presentation, the pioneer D-G of BPP, Engr. Emeka Eze, lamented that 19 years into the existence of the organization, forces that were intent on perpetuating corruption in government procurement were still fighting the Bureau.
He revealed that there were 400 cases against his administration within the eight years that he headed that organisation.
The former D-G who urged the management and staff of BPP to remain focused, said there was need to extend attention beyond contracts award to contracts execution.
He also urged government to institute both administrative and criminal sanctions against government officials and contractors found to be involved in infractions, while calling for random integrity assessment of Procurement Officers.
