The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has launched a community-driven procurement framework to bolster the monitoring and execution of constituency projects undertaken by federal legislators across the country.
This new approach permits the bureau to supervise the progress of these projects using a blend of technological and conventional methods. Additionally, it is aimed at empowering lawmakers to effectively oversee the performance of contractors engaged in their constituency projects.
The Director-General of the BPP, Adebowale Adedokun, made this announcement on Thursday during his appearance before the Senate Committee on Procurement to advocate for the agency’s budget proposal for 2026.
Mr. Adedokun stated that this initiative recently received approval from President Bola Tinubu, characterizing it as a groundbreaking step in Nigeria’s public procurement history.
He noted, "The president has authorized us to adopt community-based procurement, which signifies the actualization of local content principles. This marks the introduction of a legal framework supporting legislators in achieving value from constituency projects."
He further explained that this framework will enable projects earmarked for local government areas to utilize the community-based procurement system, discouraging reliance on contractors from Abuja who could be easily replaced by local service providers.
Moreover, Mr. Adedokun detailed the mandate for appointing a procurement officer in every local government area nationwide. These officers will be registered with the BPP to ensure that constituency initiatives are executed as planned.
He emphasized, "The government intends for local resources to be utilized in project implementation. We will adopt both technology and manual strategies. Each local government will have a fully registered procurement officer to ensure the successful execution of projects specified by lawmakers."
The BPP is tasked with the regulation, supervision, and monitoring of public procurement in Nigeria to ensure transparency, accountability, and the realization of value in government expenditures.
In straightforward terms, the BPP guarantees that government contracts are awarded and fulfilled in an orderly, equitable, and corruption-free manner.
Constituency projects, known as Zonal Intervention Projects, comprise federal budget allocations proposed by lawmakers to tackle local infrastructure and community needs.
While lawmakers initiate these projects, their execution falls under the jurisdiction of federal ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
Over the years, this scheme has faced substantial critique due to ineffective implementation, insufficient funding allocations, project duplication, and corruption allegations.
One persistent issue has been the delay or failure in releasing capital budget funds by the executive, resulting in numerous sanctioned projects being either incomplete or left stagnant. Lawmakers sometimes fail to monitor the projects they initiated, further contributing to delays or incomplete works.
The Office of the Auditor-General and several civil society organizations have consistently highlighted deficiencies in the oversight of these initiatives.
Last September, lawmakers raised concerns that the executive was selectively disbursing funds, undermining both constituency and national capital projects. This has adversely impacted local contractors who depend on timely payments for government work. The implementation of capital budgets has significantly dwindled as the country struggles with an enormous debt load.
In terms of supporting local contractors, Mr. Adedokun indicated that the community-based procurement approach would ease procurement processes for local builders, allowing them to undertake government contracts without being hampered by stringent stipulations.
"We have also pinpointed hurdles that Nigerian contractors face in completing jobs competently. Hence, we are devising strategies to streamline the registration process and other requirements that hinder local contractors from performing effectively," he stated.
The DG further revealed that since its inception, the bureau has managed to save Nigeria around N3.3 trillion by averting financial losses in public procurement.
He mentioned that these funds have been returned to the Consolidated Revenue Fund to ensure proper utilization. "In 19 years of enforcing the act, from 2009 to now, we have successfully saved N3.3 trillion that could have been lost through substandard procurement activities. Furthermore, all savings will be redirected to the Consolidated Revenue Fund to ensure they are utilized judiciously."
Under the bureau's commitment, Mr. Adedokun affirmed, "We are dedicated to executing our responsibilities to guarantee an effective procurement system, beneficial to both our citizens and foreign entities, with the independent functioning of the BPP being critical for achieving good governance in our nation."
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