Abuja: The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has called for the enhancement of procurement standards across the nation, emphasizing the importance of sharing best practices, discussing challenges, and aligning stakeholders with governmental objectives to collectively strengthen procurement reforms for national progress. This statement was made during a workshop organized to provide a platform for procurement officers from various sectors, including private organizations, government departments, and agencies.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Director-General of BPP commended procurement officers for their dedication despite operational challenges, recognizing their critical role in the success of ongoing reforms driven by the Federal Government across various institutions nationwide. He urged active engagement among participants, stressing the collective responsibility in making procurement work effectively across Nigeria and Africa. He reiterated Nigeria’s need to lead in systems delivering value for its citizens and conveyed the support of President Bola Tinubu, describing him as a chief champion of ongoing procurement reforms aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and efficiency across the public sector.
Ola Olukoyede, Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), commended BPP for organizing the workshop to equip procurement officers with knowledge of revised prior review monetary thresholds approved by the Federal Government. These thresholds aim to enhance transparency, allowing faster procurement processes by giving accounting officers and tender boards approval powers, thus reinforcing accountability across operations. Olukoyede, represented by Wilson Uwujare, Director Public Affairs at EFCC, warned that the EFCC would intensify monitoring to ensure full compliance with the guidelines, emphasizing that the thresholds should strengthen procurement rather than enable financial misconduct or administrative malpractice.
Auditor-General Shaakaa Chira highlighted that many procurement infractions discovered during audits stem from weak compliance and limited understanding among officers. He called for stronger commitment to implementing the new national guidelines effectively, urging officers to understand and apply the revised thresholds properly to ensure fairness, transparency, and value for money in government spending, thereby strengthening accountability across public institutions nationwide.
Dr. Musa Aliyu, Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), stated that fighting corruption requires collaboration from all stakeholders, including procurement officers. Represented by Jimoh Suleiman, Deputy Director, Project Tracking, ICPC, he noted that procurement officers play a pivotal role in ensuring competitive, transparent, and compliant procurement activities nationwide, stressing that their commitment is essential to strengthening integrity in public spending.
The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Dr. Abdullahi Bello, emphasized that procurement should be guided by integrity, professionalism, and strict ethical standards. He urged officers to uphold fairness and transparency in every decision, represented by Ibraheem Mahmood, Coordinating Director, CCB. He encouraged participants to embrace the new guidelines responsibly and ensure procurement outcomes reflected diligence, honesty, and commitment to serving the public interest nationwide.
Participants like Tamuno Ogolo of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital expressed that procurement officers must adhere strictly to the new guidelines to support Nigeria’s development and improve institutional accountability. Mrs. Afolabi Oluwu of the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, Lagos, highlighted her takeaway from the workshop, emphasizing the importance of performing duties without compromising standards and appreciating the assurance of support from the Director-General for officers who follow due process.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Director-General of BPP also delivered a presentation on implementing the new procurement guidelines and the monitoring frameworks designed to ensure nationwide compliance with established standards.