The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has issued a stern warning to public sector procurement officers against obstructing ongoing procurement reforms, cautioning that anyone found culpable will face appropriate sanctions.
Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, Director-General of the BPP, gave the warning in Abuja during a strategic meeting with procurement officers on Grade Levels 08 to 14 under the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).
The statement, signed by Zira Nagga, Head of Public Relations at the BPP, quoted Adedokun as stressing that the bureau would no longer tolerate acts capable of derailing procurement reforms.
In his keynote address titled “Driving Excellence through Transparency, Compliance, and Efficiency,” the BPP boss reaffirmed the bureau’s mission to make Nigeria’s public procurement process transparent, accountable, efficient, and beneficial to all citizens.
Adedokun warned that procurement officers who misguide their chief executives on procurement processes would henceforth be sanctioned. He also cautioned those who lobby for postings, noting that such officers would be denied deployment to the agencies they lobbied for.
Similarly, the BPP would recommend halting the salaries of officers who fail to report to their duty posts, he added.
“The bureau will also sanction procurement officers who delay the processing of official documents in line with the public service rules,” Adedokun said.
However, he assured that the BPP would protect officers who perform their duties professionally and act in the public interest.
“They are free to approach the bureau with their challenges for review and resolution,” he said.
Reiterating the bureau’s commitment to transparency, compliance, and efficiency, Adedokun disclosed that the BPP would adhere strictly to the 21-day timeline stipulated by the Public Procurement Act 2007 for resolving complaints from contractors.
“The BPP is required to review cases, issue a written decision within 21 working days of receiving the complaints, and state the corrective actions, reasons for rejection, or remedies granted,” he explained.
He also announced plans to streamline approval processes, standardise documentation, and automate workflows to ensure timely and transparent procurement decisions.
According to Adedokun, these measures align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which seeks to entrench good governance, accountability, and efficient service delivery in the public sector.
The meeting, which focused on the implementation of new procurement guidelines, revised service-wide monetary thresholds, and other reform components, ended with a call for all procurement professionals to uphold ethical standards, embrace innovation, and demonstrate unwavering dedication to national development through transparent and efficient service delivery.
