Abuja: The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr Adebowale Adedokun, has announced that the bureau has revitalised inter-agency collaboration to address procurement corruption. He made this statement during a national stakeholders’ interactive workshop with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) focused on current procurement trends and reform roles.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Adedokun highlighted that the collaboration is intended to enhance the integrity of Nigeria’s public procurement system. He mentioned that partnerships have been strengthened with anti-corruption bodies such as the EFCC and ICPC, along with other agencies including the Auditor-General’s Office, Attorney General’s Office, NEITI, CCB, and NFIU. This inter-agency effort aims to reinforce anti-corruption measures in public procurement and public finance management.
Adedokun further explained that the reform extends to state governments and local authorities through partnerships with regulatory bodies and ALGON. He emphasised the importance of public procurement in governance and national economic growth, noting that while it represents a significant share of public spending and is key to achieving development targets, it is also prone to inefficiency, waste, and corruption. This underscores the need for continuous reforms to promote transparency, competition, and alignment with global standards.
He also underscored the essential role of CSOs in governance and accountability. CSOs act as watchdogs to ensure compliance with procurement rules and hold officials accountable, bridging transparency gaps and building trust between the government and citizens. Their roles now include advocacy, capacity building, research, audits, community mobilisation, and policy engagement, along with using technical tools to build public trust and support sustainable development.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, echoed these sentiments, stating that procurement ensures democracy’s dividends reach the people. He praised the BPP for its consistent transparency in sharing procurement plans, tenders, and awards. Idris reaffirmed the government’s zero tolerance for corruption and noted that public access to procurement data deters abuse and encourages oversight. He commended the BPP and promised continued ministerial support for public communication and engagement.