Adebowale Adedokun, director-general of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), has warned ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) against recurring delays in procurement processes, emphasising the need for accountability, transparency, and timely execution of projects.
Adedokun, in an exclusive interview with BusinessDay in Abuja, criticised the MDAs’ practice of initiating critical projects, such as roads, schools, and hospitals, towards the end of the year without proper planning.
Adedokun said that the delays undermine government projects and erode public trust. He stressed the importance of starting procurement processes early to ensure seamless project execution.
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“If the presidency plans to build a road or construct a school, the process must start on time, not what we see now, where agencies suddenly wake up in December, seeking approvals for projects they had all year to execute.”
To address these inefficiencies, Adedokun announced new oversight measures, including stricter timelines for procurement activities and ensure compliance with established guidelines.
He said that the bureau aims to foster a culture of transparency and efficiency in line with President Bola Tinubu’s development agenda, and that in a bid to reinforce accountability, will now require regular progress reports from MDAs detailing all contract awards and penalties for non-compliance.
The BPP will also hold quarterly review meetings with non-performing agencies to identify and resolve bottlenecks.
“This initiative is part of a broader strategy to improve Nigeria’s procurement landscape and ensure value for taxpayers’ money.
“I have issued an instruction that every month; MDAs must submit reports on their contract awards. Quarterly, I will summon non-performing agencies to explain their failures. Where deliberate negligence is detected, I will escalate these issues to the president, the attorney- general and relevant ministers,” he added.
The DG also revealed plans to leverage technology in procurement processes, ensuring that only qualified contractors are awarded contracts.
He emphasised that portfolio contractors without technical expertise would no longer have a place in Nigeria’s procurement system.
“If you are not qualified in a specific field, the system will not allow you to participate in that procurement process. No MDA will wake up and award contracts to unqualified vendors anymore,” he stated.
Adedokun highlighted the need for contractors to meet requirements such as tax compliance, social security contributions, and technical expertise, stressing that these standards are non-negotiable.
The DG’s remarks signal a firm stance against corruption, inefficiency, and non-performance in Nigeria’s procurement processes, and align with broader government efforts to ensure value for money in public spending. It’s also part of a series of ongoing initiatives aimed at fostering accountability, improving project delivery and streamlining procurement processes across the MDAs.
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He said pragmatic approach to address systemic inefficiencies and ensure that procurement laws are being fully implemented.
According to him, the objective is to create a layer of oversight and ensure transparency in the procurement process. In addition, non-performing agencies will face quarterly reviews, with the leadership of these agencies summoned to explain delays and inefficiencies.
He stressed the importance of sanctions and incentives in enforcing compliance with procurement regulations.
“We have one of the best procurement laws in the world, but implementation remains a challenge. Sanctions and incentives must go hand in hand to address the systemic gap,” he said.
A significant aspect of BPP’s strategy involves sustained engagement with MDAs, contractors and stakeholders.
Adedokun further disclosed plans to hold direct consultations with ministers and permanent secretaries to understand and address procurement bottlenecks, beginning this January.
“We need to improve communication, define roles clearly, and ensure that everyone knows their responsibilities within the confines of the law,” he noted.
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