The Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, OHCSF, have inaugurated a joint planning committee to organise the 2026 Federal Permanent Secretaries’ Retreat.
The retreat is scheduled for Thursday, July 9 to Sunday, July 12, 2026.
The inauguration happened during a strategic meeting of senior officials from both institutions and marks the revival of a longstanding collaboration between BPP and OHCSF to strengthen procurement capacity and governance at the top level of the Federal Civil Service.
–Procurement central to government spending–
BPP Director General Dr. Adebowale A. Adedokun, FCIPS, commended the Head of Service, Mrs. Didi Esther Watson-Jack, OON, for prioritising procurement as a driver of effective public service delivery.
He stressed the role of Permanent Secretaries as Accounting Officers, noting that over 80% of government expenditure goes through procurement.
“There is a long-standing synergy between BPP and the Office of the Head of Service. This collaboration has strengthened procurement practice across MDAs and has given the President the confidence to drive far-reaching reforms,” he said.
Dr. Adedokun added that implementation of government policy rests with Permanent Secretaries.
He said that, “Without a clear understanding of procurement processes at that level, government cannot function effectively. The retreat provides the forum where challenges can be identified, solutions debated, and alignment achieved.”
—Retreat must deliver measurable impact—
With the 2025/2026 budget already in implementation, the BPP boss said it is urgent to address bottlenecks affecting service delivery.
“If there is any point in time to interrogate the challenges affecting implementation, it is now. This edition must not only be the best organised in terms of logistics but must also deliver measurable impact within the public service,” a statement by Zirra Zakka Nagga, BPP head of media quoted him to have said.
Representing the Head of Service, Permanent Secretary, Common Service Office, Dr. Danjuma Usman Kalba, welcomed the renewed partnership.
He said the retreat will equip Permanent Secretaries to ensure scarce public resources deliver optimal value for money.
“Our operating mantra is clear – there is no sleep. We will work tirelessly with BPP to deliver a retreat that meets the expectations of the body of permanent secretaries and the Nigerian people,” Dr. Kalba assured.
—Retreat since 2008–
The Federal Permanent Secretaries’ Retreat has been convened intermittently since 2008 as a high-level platform to deepen procurement knowledge, tackle systemic implementation challenges, and reinforce collaboration between BPP and Permanent Secretaries who oversee MDAs and parastatals.
The 2026 edition is expected to set a new benchmark for strategic engagement and results-driven outcomes, in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda goals.
