● New MoU aims to fix shortage of procurement-savvy lawyers, reduce abandoned projects and contract disputes
The Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, and the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, have inaugurated a Joint Committee on Procurement Reforms to embed legal expertise into Nigeria’s public contracting system, the two bodies announced Tuesday.
The committee was launched at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at BPP Headquarters in Abuja.
The partnership targets four areas: procurement administration, legal practice, capacity building, and policy reform.
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The goal is to improve transparency, accountability, and value for money in public spending.
—“We lack lawyers who are vast in procurement”—
BPP Director General Dr. Adebowale A. Adedokun, FCIPS, said Nigeria’s procurement system suffers from a shortage of lawyers with specialised knowledge.
That gap, he said, weakens contract administration, dispute resolution, policy drafting, and prosecution of procurement infractions.
“Nigeria lack lawyers who are vast and experienced in procurement, hence we must grow lawyers who understand procurement,” Dr. Adedokun stated.
He said that, “By building this capacity within the legal profession and the judiciary, we will strengthen the integrity of the procurement process and improve service delivery to citizens.”
He added the collaboration will produce procurement-savvy judicial officers and law students, creating a pipeline of professionals who can interpret and apply the Public Procurement Act effectively.
—NBA: Procurement law now a dedicated course—
NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, reaffirmed the Association’s commitment to transparency and professionalism in public spending.
He said weak procurement processes are a major driver of abandoned projects and waste of public resources.
In a major announcement, Osigwe disclosed that procurement law and practice will now be taught as a dedicated course at the NBA Institute of Legal Education.
The move, he said, will ensure newly admitted lawyers understand procurement principles before entering practice.
—Committee mandate—
The newly inaugurated BPP-NBA Joint Committee will drive implementation of the MoU.
Its tasks include:
1. Training & certification: Develop curricula and certification pathways for lawyers and judicial officers on procurement law and practice.
2. Policy reform: Advise on legal and regulatory amendments to strengthen the Public Procurement Act and its regulations.
3. Contract & litigation support: Support BPP in reviewing complex contracts and prosecuting procurement-related infractions.
4. Compliance sensitisation: Organise joint programs for MDAs, private sector actors, and civil society on procurement compliance.
—Context: Rising procurement oversight—
The partnership comes as BPP intensifies oversight across Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including the ongoing Second Batch Procurement Audit.
BPP says equipping the legal community with procurement expertise should reduce litigation risks, improve contract enforcement, and ensure public funds deliver maximum value.
The press release containing these developments was issued by Zira Zakka Nagga, Head of Press and Public Relations, BPP on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
