BPP Partners EFCC, ICPC, CCB, Others to Tackle Procurement Fraud Among Public Servants
•Adedokun: it’s not business as usual, local contractors to get preferences, bid with equal competencies
James Emejo in Abuja
Director General/Chief Executive, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, yesterday, said the agency was collaborating with the anti-graft agencies to expose public officers engaged in procurement fraud.
Adedokun said going forward, BPP will share reports with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC), and Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to indict public servants who indulged in procurement fraud.
Adedokun spoke at a media briefing in Abuja on, “Renewed Hope through Strategic Procurement.”
The forum was organised to ponder the way forward for the country’s procurement and contractual system.
Adedokun said, “For the first time in the history of BPP, I’m sharing reports with CCB on involvement of public servants in procurement processes. It has never happened.
“Under my watch, CCB will be receiving, and so it’s their responsibility, not mine, to ask questions about public servants, civil servants, who are directly involved in any procurement process.”
He added, “Hold ICPC accountable, and hold EFCC accountable. Mine is to give them data. It’s theirs to prosecute, investigate, and bring them to bear. I have timelines to deliver. I don’t know about them, but I will do that within my own confines.”
Adedokun spoke alongside heads of the anti-corruption agencies, including Chairman, ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu; Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede; Chairman of CCB, Dr. Abdullahi Usman Bello; and Executive Secretary/Chief Executive, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr. Ogbonnaya Orji.
They all pledged maximum cooperation with BPP to prosecute procurement infractions by civil servants.
The heads of the anti-corruption agencies said 90 per cent of corruption emanated from procurement fraud, stating that exchange of information remains key to addressing the problem.
The BPP boss also said from January 2025, local contractors of equal competencies would be given the opportunity to bid among themselves.
He said the move aimed at encouraging competition, and improved quality of service delivery to the country.
He said, “Now, for the local contractors, you cannot expect a one-year-old child to suddenly be driving a vehicle. What skill does he have?
“So, under our watch, what we’re going to do is to grow the local contractors by allowing them to take part at different levels of the threshold of procurement in this country. And very soon, you will soon see some dramatic changes in terms of local contractors in government procurement. But my challenge is that we also want to ask the local contractors to up their game in terms of standardisation, good ethical practices, building the capacity of their employees matters.
“I’m assuring local contractors that this is your season. Take advantage of that. Some of the guidelines we’ll be issuing out will be addressing these local contractor issues, whereby they will be given some preferences if they merit it.
“We will not substitute merit. We will not substitute competence at all. But we’ll give them that. And it’s a global practice.”
Adedokun said, “What we’re saying about local contractors is not new. It’s been practised in sub-Saharan Africa. It’s been practised in Europe. It’s been practised elsewhere. So, it will not be different. So, take it from us. We will work with them to give that.”
Adedokun said a functional public procurement remained the backbone of government operations, ensuring the delivery of essential services, including food security, shelter, social infrastructure, healthcare, quality education, security, and poverty reduction.
He said that could only be achieved through open, competitive, transparent, and accountable processes, which enabled people to do much more with less. He added that BPP was established to ensure that the procurement of goods, works, and services using public resources adhered to established guidelines, guaranteeing quality service delivery at optimal costs.
Adedokun said the country’s procurement system had made remarkable progress over the years, adding, however, that the bureau’s 21 statutory functions remain a reservoir of untapped potential for reforms, creativity, and establishment of new standards to drive visible impacts.
He said, “My vision for BPP is to lead a regulatory institution that fosters strategic partnerships with public service organisations, anti-corruption agencies, civil society, the media, and development partners. Together, we will reposition the BPP as a driving force for Nigeria’s socio-economic growth through world-class procurement practices.”
He said the renewed vision was anchored on three key pillars, including transparency and accountability; competence, efficiency, integrity and innovation; as well as inclusivity and economic growth.
The BPP head said the bureau’s transformation strategies for 2025 will focus on leveraging technology and automation; enhancing career development for procurement officers; strengthening collaboration; promoting affirmative procurement; as well as enhancing monitoring and evaluation.
He said the bureau will ensure MDAs submitted to the BPP monthly reports on contracts awarded and published them on the BPP and procuring entity’s websites.
Adedokun also hinted on the deployment of price intelligence and benchmarking mechanism for regularly reviewing and updating benchmarks to align with prevailing policies and practices.
He said, “This journey is about more than the Bureau of Public Procurement; it is about Nigeria’s future. Public procurement is a powerful tool to transform lives, drive economic growth, and restore hope in governance. Together, we can make this vision a reality.”
