Tag: BPP

The Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Adebowale A. Adedokun, has decried persistent inefficiencies and violations in Nigeria’s budget and project implementation process, warning that uncoordinated and underfunded capital projects have become a conduit for corruption and fiscal irresponsibility.

Speaking at the national conference on public accounts and fiscal governance organised by the Public Accounts Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives, Adedokun stressed the urgent need to overhaul Nigeria’s project funding model and enforce accountability through judicial sanctions.

He also urged that projects should not be allowed to commence without adequate funding.

He described the practice of allocating paltry sums to multi-billion-naira projects as a deliberate invitation for budget variations and corruption.

“There are projects worth ₦10 billion or ₦5 billion, but what I see is that only ₦300 million is allocated. Already, it tells me that I’ll be asked for appropriation again, or to incur variation. That is wasteful and unacceptable,” he said.

He noted that some federal projects have remained ongoing since the year 2000, yet continue to receive annual budget allocations without empirical evidence of progress.

The procurement chief condemned the widespread disregard for global public finance standards, particularly the requirement that capital projects must have full funding from start to finish before they commence.

“In global standards, a project must already have funding from start to finish before execution. But here, people just award contracts without funds, and that’s a clear violation of the procurement act,” he lamented.

He revealed that in recent months, the Bureau has discovered that some contracts were awarded and executed without any financial backing, a practice he described as “contrary to law” and “endangering the 2024 budget cycle.”

He urged all fiscal oversight bodies, including the EFCC, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to begin their monitoring efforts from the very start of the budget cycle, not midway or after funds have been disbursed.

“If we are serious about stopping waste and corruption, we must start monitoring at the beginning of the budget cycle. Not after projects have failed or funds have been misused,” he said.

He also criticised the failure of the judicial system to convict public officials who have been found guilty of procurement infractions, despite overwhelming evidence submitted by oversight agencies.

“In the last seven months, the Bureau has recorded close to 500 infractions. Many of these require prosecution and judicial pronouncements, but when does the judiciary give any conviction?” he queried.

He warned that the absence of punitive consequences emboldens offenders and undermines the work of regulatory agencies.

“People continue to do the wrong things because they know they won’t be punished,” he said.

He emphasised that Nigeria has historically failed to sanction public officers for procurement misconduct or budgetary recklessness.

Read Also: BPP, Institute unite for  transparency in procurement

“We’ve never sanctioned people for bad behaviour. That has to change,” he said.

He called on lawmakers and government institutions to embed the principles of prudence and discipline in all budget and procurement processes, urging institutional reforms and alignment with international standards.

He proposed that ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) be required to present empirical evidence of what was achieved with previous budgets before being allowed to receive new appropriations.

“Let them show us, empirically, what they did with the last project before we approve another,” he said.

He added that the practice of inserting underfunded projects into the budget, a trend that leads to endless “ongoing” projects, must be discontinued to promote transparency, fiscal discipline, and delivery of public goods.

The federal government has called on procurement professionals to play a pivotal role in addressing Nigeria’s national challenges, particularly in the areas of procurement and logistics.

Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), made this appeal at a seminar organized by the Nigeria Branch of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS). The seminar aimed to identify challenges and propose solutions to enhance Nigeria’s position as a global logistics hub.

Adedokun urged procurement professionals to contribute to the development of a comprehensive National Procurement Strategy for Nigeria. Additionally, he encouraged them to provide insights on improving the country’s logistics framework and developing effective supplier/vendor management strategies. 

Harold Nwariaku, Abuja Branch Chair of CIPS Nigeria, stressed the critical role of logistics infrastructure in a nation’s supply chain efficiency. He noted that Nigeria must address existing gaps and implement innovative solutions to compete globally. 

CIPS Nigeria he said has been actively working to empower procurement professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the evolving landscape. 

The seminar provided a platform for industry leaders, government officials, and academics to discuss the state of Nigeria’s logistics systems and their impact on supply chain efficiency. 

Participants explored innovative approaches to transportation networks, warehousing, and technology to enhance performance and competitiveness.

Dr. Nkang, a former senior staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, highlighted the importance of adequate logistics infrastructure in reducing costs, optimizing supply chains, and improving consumer prices. 

He emphasised the need to modernize and expand Nigeria’s infrastructure network through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).

The federal government has launched an ambitious initiative to professionalize procurement in Nigeria, aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of project delivery across the nation.

This was disclosed by the director-general of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, during a Stakeholders’ Engagement Retreat on the Draft National Procurement Certification Framework (NPPCF) in Abuja on Thursday.

Dr. Adedokun explained that the initiative, developed in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Finance and development partners, seeks to enhance the capacity of procurement practitioners nationwide.

“For government to implement its projects and achieve its goals, the critical component that needs to be strengthened is the procurement function,” he stated.

The framework introduces a dual-track approach comprising academic and professional training programs.

Six universities across the country will provide theoretical instruction, while a complementary professional track will focus on practical applications, including scientific methods, legal frameworks, and quality assurance in contract awards.

“There’s a synergy between the academic and professional tracks. The academic provides theoretical knowledge, while the professional aspect ensures hands-on, industry-relevant skills,” Dr. Adedokun explained.

He emphasised that the initiative also involves the private sector, promoting collaboration and knowledge exchange between public and private stakeholders.

Dr. Adedokun underscored the importance of professionalism in procurement, highlighting that the new framework aims to build a cadre of globally competitive and ethically minded practitioners.

“We cannot continue with rudimentary knowledge. We want to be driven by professionalism and prepare for the future with sound, ethical-minded individuals who love Nigeria,” he said.

As part of the reforms, contractors seeking government contracts may soon need to include certified procurement professionals within their organizations.

While participation in the program is incentivized rather than mandatory, Dr. Adedokun hinted at its importance for competitive advantage.

According to the BPP DG, the pilot phase of the program is set to launch in January 2025, initially targeting graduates from the six designated centres of excellence for academic training.

These participants will undergo professional training before the program is expanded to other candidates.

“This pilot will prioritize those who have completed academic training. Others will have to wait until subsequent phases,” Adedokun revealed, adding that the project aims to address a growing skills gap in the sector, as many seasoned procurement officers are retiring without immediate replacements.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering a culture of excellence in procurement that aligns with national development goals.

“This program is not for people who just want to make money. It’s for those who want to see good roads, 24-hour power supply, and the best for Nigeria,” he said.

Also speaking to the essence of the framework, the National Coordinator of the Sustainable Procurement, Environment, and Social Standards Enhancement (SPESSE) project, Dr. Joshua Attah, said the government is using the project to train professionals in procurement, environmental, and social standards.

The federal government, with support from the World Bank, is implementing a landmark initiative to train professionals in procurement, environmental, and social standards through the Sustainable Procurement, Environment, and Social Standards Enhancement (SPESSE) project.

Read Also: Transparency: BPP bars contractors from its premises

“SPESSE is a capacity-building program designed to produce professionals in procurement, environmental standards, and social standards,” Dr. Attah explained.

He said the program is anchored in six federal universities, including Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Ahmadu Bello University, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University in Makurdi, University of Lagos, and University of Benin.

The initiative offers a range of academic options, from short courses to advanced certificates, postgraduate diplomas, and master’s programs, with some universities independently adding PhD programs.

“Although the project does not support PhDs, universities have introduced them to train future educators and ensure sustainability beyond the World Bank’s intervention,” Dr. Attah noted.

The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has announced a ban on contractors visiting its premises, marking a significant shift aimed at improving efficiency and reducing disruptions in its operations.

This move, the agency said, will enhance its service delivery and create a more serene work environment.

The outgoing Acting Director-General of the BPP, Olusegun Omotola, disclosed the new policy while handing over to the new Director-General, Adedokun Adebowale, at a ceremony held in Abuja.

Omotola noted that the ban was necessary due to the frequent influx of contractors seeking to follow up on requests for “no-objection” certificates.

“Previously, the Bureau had the appearance of a marketplace due to the number of transactional visitors,” Omotola, adding that the ban has restored the calm needed for the agency to focus on its core mandate of ensuring transparency and efficiency in public procurement.

Sources within the agency revealed that contractors often used these visits to pressure the Bureau for special or restricted tenders, bypassing competitive bidding processes.

Omotola stressed that the new policy has eliminated such pressures, enabling the Bureau to operate as a serious-minded organization.

In his inaugural speech, the new Director-General, Adedokun Adebowale, pledged to strengthen the agency’s operations by introducing an electronic procurement system, which he said would minimize physical interactions and address challenges hindering the Bureau’s efficiency.

“Under my leadership, the BPP will deliver an electronic procurement system to this government. We aim to make the Bureau an enabler of sustainable development,” Adebowale stated.

Adebowale, a pioneer staff member of the BPP since its inception in 2007, emphasized the importance of digitization in expediting service delivery.

He noted that turnaround times for processing due process certificates and no-objection letters had already improved, reducing from three months to a maximum of one month.

The new Director-General also outlined plans to introduce sector-specific policies to empower women, youths, and persons with disabilities.

Additionally, he emphasized the need for collaboration with all 36 states to institutionalize procurement practices at both federal and state levels.

“There is no way we can succeed in procurement at the federal level if we do not build partnerships with the states. We must create the right environment for agencies to excel and deliver results to the federal government,” Adebowale said.

He reiterated the agency’s commitment to ensuring open competitive bidding, moving away from previous practices that allowed special or restricted tendering processes.

Adebowale vowed to align the Bureau’s activities with the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He assured stakeholders that the agency would leverage its tools to enforce budget implementation and drive economic growth.

“BPP is not just a cost-saving organization; it is a tool for economic growth. If we get procurement right, we will get it right for the country,” he said.

Adebowale also cautioned Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to take greater responsibility for their procurement processes, assuring them of the Bureau’s support within the confines of its mandate.

The BPP has also introduced a new policy to streamline its operations and reduce the volume of requests it receives.

Adebowale pledged to strengthen these measures to ensure timely service delivery and actualize ongoing digitization efforts stalled by funding challenges.

Read Also: Newly appointed DG of BPP Adebowale will strengthen procurement process

“There is no gainsaying that digitization will accelerate service delivery. With improved motivation for staff, the turnaround time for processing requests has significantly improved,” he said.

The Bureau plans to focus on addressing frivolous requests for restricted tenders and ensuring compliance with the Public Procurement Act of 2007.

A highlight of the event was a rousing welcome given to Adebiyi at one of the two buildings of the Agency where he stopped to announce his presence before the swearing-in ceremony.

He announced the immediate appointment of one of his former colleagues at the agency, Dr Lanre Obasa, as his Chief of Staff.