The Network for the Actualization of Social Growth and Viable Development (NEFGAD) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it described as bold, visionary, and far-reaching public procurement reforms outlined during the presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly.
In a statement signed by its Acting Head of Office, Barrister Unekwu Ojo, and made available to journalists on Saturday, the public procurement advocacy group said the President’s remarks on procurement underscore the administration’s firm commitment to transparency, efficiency, and prudent management of public resources.
NEFGAD praised President Tinubu’s disclosure that the Federal Government commenced a comprehensive procurement reform framework in November 2024, describing the move as a decisive shift toward strengthening due process, reducing waste, and enforcing accountability across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
According to the group, the reforms have already yielded tangible results, including shortened procurement timelines, improved compliance levels, and stronger sanctions against erring contractors and public officials, thereby setting a new benchmark for governance and fiscal discipline.
The organisation noted that the November 2024 timeline referenced by the President coincides with the assumption of office of the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Adedokun. It stated that this alignment establishes that the reforms acknowledged by the President are being driven under Dr. Adedokun’s leadership, in line with the policy direction of the Tinubu administration.
NEFGAD also highlighted the significance of the President’s emphasis on the Nigeria First Policy, which mandates MDAs to prioritise Nigerian-made goods and local companies in public procurement. The group described the policy as a strategic intervention aimed at deepening local content, stimulating domestic industries, creating jobs, encouraging innovation, and reducing the country’s dependence on imports. It stressed that procurement has evolved beyond an administrative function to become a critical tool for economic development and industrial growth.
Ojo further commended the Bureau of Public Procurement for recording over ₦1 trillion in savings within one year through improved price intelligence and benchmarking mechanisms.
She noted that the figure exceeds the cumulative savings recorded by the BPP over 17 years between 2007 and 2024 before Dr. Adedokun’s tenure, describing it as the most significant cost-saving milestone in the history of the Bureau and possibly on the African continent within a single budget cycle.
NEFGAD observed that the gains signal the emergence of a new era in Nigeria’s procurement system, defined by efficiency, national interest, and sustainable economic growth. While applauding the progress, the group stressed the need to safeguard the reforms through strict adherence to due process, impartial enforcement, and sustained transparency.
The organisation called on MDAs, civil society organisations, and the media to actively monitor the implementation of the reforms to ensure that the Nigeria First Policy is not undermined by vested interests or political patronage.
NEFGAD also urged the Federal Government to institutionalise best practices, consolidate savings, and deepen the culture of accountability, warning that the long-term success of the reforms depends on consistent oversight, strong regulatory frameworks, and unwavering political will.
According to the group, the ongoing transformation of Nigeria’s procurement landscape represents not only a major achievement in public finance management but also a model of good governance that other sectors can emulate. NEFGAD reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the reform agenda through advocacy, capacity building, and independent monitoring, insisting that procurement must remain a strategic driver of economic growth, job creation, and national prosperity.
