No hiding for corrupt contractors – BPP warns

Procurement officers across government ministries, departments, and agencies face strict scrutiny as the Bureau of Public Procurement vows to crack down on inflated contracts and violations of due process.

The Director-General of the Bureau, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, issued the warning over the weekend while speaking at an enlightenment workshop for directorate-level procurement officers at the State House Auditorium, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said the days of procurement officers colluding with contractors or behaving like politicians were over, warning that anyone found culpable would be held accountable.

Adedokun clarified that inflated contracts, poor specifications, or irregular procurement approvals would no longer be tolerated.

“If a project is inflated, I will hold you accountable. If specifications and needs are drafted by a user department and you accept them without proper scrutiny, we will hold you accountable,” he said.

“Procurement is no longer a backdoor activity. You are expected to guide the process professionally and provide evidence of doing so. If the procurement fails, you will answer for it,” he added.

The DG expressed concern over continued acts of contract splitting and unapproved procurement processes, describing them as illegal, noting that the Bureau’s audits had uncovered several such violations linked to procurement officers.

He stressed that public procurement was not just about awarding contracts but a strategic instrument to drive national development, reduce waste, and deliver value for public funds.

According to him, procurement must now be regarded as a planning and reform tool to improve the country’s socio-economic outcomes.

“Procurement is an enabler for economic growth, a sustainable development tool, and a risk management mechanism. It is not just about giving out contracts. It must be used to plan, reduce poverty, attract foreign investment, and promote fairness in society,” he added.

He assured that officers who carry out their duties diligently would receive protection from the Bureau.

“BPP will defend procurement officers. If they do the right thing, we will stand by them. But if they compromise, we will be the first to expose them. That is the agreement we have reached with the Head of Service,” he said.

Adedokun also announced that the Bureau would soon introduce a policy to debar contractors who consistently default on project execution, noting that reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda must be implemented efficiently and transparently.

In his concluding remarks, the BPP boss reminded participants that procurement officers have a critical role to play in national development, and that procurement must now be seen as a tool that can transform governance and uplift citizens.

“Let your conscience guide you. If you approve a contractor who does not deserve it, are you at peace with yourself? The future of Nigerians depends on how effective and honest our procurement processes are. It is your duty to do it right,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary, Common Services Office in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Kalba Usman, who represented the Head of Service, praised the BPP for its efforts in improving the country’s procurement framework and urged officers to embrace the reforms to improve service delivery.

The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Dr Abdullahi Bello, also urged procurement officers to maintain integrity, stressing that the agency would continue to investigate corruption within the civil service and enforce compliance with asset declaration laws.