Abuja: The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has issued a stern warning to public sector procurement officers, cautioning them against obstructing ongoing procurement reforms and stating that any such actions will lead to appropriate sanctions.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the warning was delivered by Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, Director-General of the BPP, through a statement by Zira Nagga, Head of Public Relations at BPP, during a strategic meeting in Abuja. The meeting included Procurement Officers on Grade Levels 08 to 14 under the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF). Dr. Adedokun’s keynote address, titled ‘Driving Excellence through Transparency, Compliance, and Efficiency,’ highlighted the BPP’s mission to ensure procurement in Nigeria is transparent, accountable, efficient, and beneficial to all citizens.
Dr. Adedokun asserted that procurement officers who mislead their chief executives on procurement processes would face sanctions. Additionally, those who lobby for specific postings would be denied assignments to the lobbied agencies. He also mentioned that salaries could be withheld for officers failing to report to their offices, and delays in processing official documents would result in sanctions as per public service rules. However, the BPP pledged to support procurement officers who perform their duties professionally and encouraged them to engage the bureau with any challenges they encounter for resolution.
Dr. Adedokun stressed the importance of deepening transparency, compliance, and efficiency within Nigeria’s public procurement system. He reiterated the bureau’s commitment to adhering to the 21-day timeline mandated by the Public Procurement Act 2007 for addressing complaints by contractors, ensuring timely reviews and decisions.
The Director-General unveiled plans to streamline approval processes, standardize documentation, and automate workflows to facilitate prompt and transparent procurement decisions. He emphasized the BPP’s role in supporting President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on promoting good governance, accountability, and service delivery.
The meeting centered on implementing new procurement guidelines, revised service-wide monetary thresholds, and other elements of the ongoing procurement reforms. Dr. Adedokun committed to making such meetings more regular and announced intentions to convene a meeting with procurement officers across various procuring entities soon.
The session concluded with a call to action for procurement professionals to uphold ethical standards, embrace innovation, and maintain dedication to national development through transparent and efficient service delivery.