Abuja: Dr Adebowale Adedokun, Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), announced plans to issue practice licenses for individuals conducting procurement training. Adedokun made this statement through Zira Nagga, Head of Public Relations, BPP, during the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) National Workshop in Enugu.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the initiative aims to eliminate unqualified practitioners and foster the development of a new generation of highly trained procurement professionals. Adedokun emphasized the necessity for NIQS members to update their knowledge with current realities and adopt technology for managing procurement processes in Nigeria. The Public Procurement Act, 2007 mandates the BPP to set standards and harmonize existing policies and professional capabilities.
Adedokun also revealed that the BPP is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Justice to establish a debarment procedure to address violators, including details on sanctions for offenders. He urged NIQS members to work with BPP in conducting procurement audits, leveraging their presence in all 36 states.
The Director-General linked procurement reforms to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for Procurement Reform, advocating for the separation of design and supervision roles in support of the local content policy. He highlighted that the newly revised Standard Bidding Documents (SBDs) would be continually updated to reflect new challenges and trends, as their use is a legal requirement under the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007.
Adedokun announced the rollout of 17 newly revised SBDs, customized for various procurement categories. He noted significant reforms under his leadership, including the upgrade of the Nigerian Open Contracting Portal (NOCOPO), which saved over N173 billion in six months through improved price intelligence and transparency. Other achievements include raised approval thresholds, reduced processing times, and strategic partnerships with global development institutions.
He urged quantity surveyors to champion transparency and value-for-money by promoting and enforcing the use of SBDs. Adedokun shared upcoming initiatives such as affirmative procurement policies for SMEs and marginalized groups, community-based procurement models, and the revival of the National Conference on Public Procurement.
The workshop convened leading procurement professionals, academics, policymakers, and development stakeholders, all committed to advancing procurement excellence and governance reforms in Nigeria.