Govs Strengthen Transparency, Inaugurate States’ Procurement DGs Forum

To strengthen transparency, accountability and efficiency in public spending, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has inaugurated the Forum of State Directors-General of Public Procurement.

The inauguration, held in Abuja, brought together directors-general of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), or their equivalents, from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

At the ceremony, the director-general of the NGF, Abdulallateef Shittu, said the initiative came at a critical time when the country was seeking to recalibrate its economic architecture.

Shittu emphasised the enormous responsibility before state procurement authorities, noting that public procurement plays a critical role in budget implementation and the delivery of government projects at all levels.

He urged members of the forum to uphold professionalism, transparency, and efficiency in discharging their responsibilities.

The director-general of the federal BPP, Adebowale Adedokun, said President Bola Tinubu is in support of the initiative which aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and its commitment to improving living standards and reducing poverty.

Adedokun described the inauguration as a significant development in Nigeria’s procurement history, saying an effective and transparent procurement system could attract foreign direct investment, boost GDP and stimulate the growth of domestic industries.

He urged members of the forum to strictly adhere to due process, fairness and transparency in the implementation of public projects.

Also speaking, Dr Osahanze Idahosa, on behalf of the President/CEO of the Africa Development Studies Centre (ADSC) and Douglas Development Institute (DDI), commended the BPP boss for creating an enabling environment for collaboration and capacity development in the procurement sector.

Idahosa said Adedokun’s openness to partnerships had enabled ADSC and DDI to contribute to efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s federal procurement systems.

He described the inauguration as significant not only to the forum but also to the broader public procurement reform agenda, particularly at the subnational level.

“Subnational procurement systems are where policy meets people, where transparency and value for money either take root or falter,” Idahosa said.

He urged the new leadership of the forum to deepen accountability, efficiency, professionalism and transparency in public procurement across the states.

According to him, ADSC and DDI have supported procurement transformation through capacity-building programmes, study exchanges and institutional development initiatives aimed at modernising public spending.

Idahosa also recalled a study exchange to South Africa involving one of the forum’s members, saying the experience underscored the need to extend procurement reforms achieved at the federal level to the states.

He said public procurement was too important to governance to be left to isolated efforts, stressing the need for collective commitment across federal and subnational institutions.

He further noted that public procurement accounts for an estimated 15 to 30 per cent of GDP and is linked to between 50 and 60 per cent of leakages in public financial management.

ADSC and DDI congratulated the new leadership and pledged continued support through training, research, knowledge-sharing platforms and international study exchanges.

In his acceptance speech, the newly elected Chairman of the forum, Ehimoni Ibiyomi, said the establishment of the forum comes at a time when procurement is increasingly being recognised not merely as an administrative function, but as a critical instrument for achieving fiscal responsibility, value for money, and infrastructure development, among others.

“Today is not simply another meeting or gathering of procurement regulators. It represents the beginning of a new institutional chapter in our collective efforts to strengthen public procurement administration, regulation and professional practice at the sub-national level in Nigeria.

“I am deeply grateful to my colleagues for the confidence reposed in me and for the opportunity to serve as Chairman of this Forum. I accept this responsibility with full recognition that the office is not about an individual. It is about collective leadership, institutional cooperation and a shared commitment to improving the quality of public procurement across our states.

“Let me begin by expressing our profound appreciation to the leadership and Management of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum Secretariat for providing the platform for the formal inauguration and recognition of this Forum.

“This gesture is significant. For the Forum to function effectively,  there must be a structured relationship between the institutions responsible for procurement regulation and the political leadership of the States.

“The Nigerian Governors’ Forum provides an important national platform through which the collective interests of State Governments can be discussed and advanced.

“I also wish to acknowledge the presence and support of the Federal Bureau of Public Procurement. Our appreciation also goes to the World Bank, particularly the team working under SPESSE, for its continued commitment to strengthening public procurement systems and professional capacity in Nigeria.

“I equally acknowledge the presence and interest of the African Development Study Centre, the Association of Procurement Professionals of Nigeria, the Corporate Affairs Commission, and other invited institutions and stakeholders,” he added.