NEFGAD lauds Tinubu’s procurement reforms, says it’s a turning point for national economic growth

The Network for the Actualization of Social Growth and Viable Development (NEFGAD), a frontline public procurement advocacy group, has commended President Bola Tinubu for the bold, visionary, and far-reaching reforms outlined in his presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly.

NEFGAD particularly commended President Tinubu’s remarks on public procurement at the presentation of the budget, stating that the President’s statement underscored the administration’s unwavering commitment to transparency, efficiency, and prudent management of public resources.

In a statement signed by the organisation’s acting head of office, Barrister Unekwu Ojo, and made available to journalists on Saturday, NEFGAD lauded the President’s disclosure that the Federal Government commenced a comprehensive procurement reform framework from November last year, describing it as a decisive shift toward strengthening due process, reducing waste, and enforcing accountability across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

The statement noted that the reforms had demonstrably shortened procurement processing timelines, enhanced compliance, and strengthened sanctions against erring contractors and public officials, setting a new benchmark for governance and fiscal prudence.

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The group said that November 2024, the period referenced by Mr. President, coincided with the assumption of office of the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, and established beyond doubt, that the procurement reforms acknowledged by Mr. President were being driven and implemented under the leadership of Dr. Adedokun, in alignment with the policy direction of the Tinubu administration.

Of particular significance is the President’s emphasis on the Nigeria First Policy, which mandates MDAs to prioritise Nigerian-made goods and local companies in public procurement.

NEFGAD described this policy as a strategic intervention aimed at deepening local content, stimulating domestic industries, creating jobs, encouraging innovation, and reducing Nigeria’s over-reliance on imports, and emphasised that procurement was no longer a mere administrative process but a powerful instrument for national economic development and industrial growth.

Ojo further commended the remarkable achievement of the Bureau of Public Procurement under Dr. Adedokun, which had recorded over ₦1 trillion in savings within just one year through enhanced price intelligence and benchmarking mechanisms.

She insisted that: “This figure is larger than the cumulative savings recorded by the BPP in 17 years from 2007 to 2024 before Dr. Adedokun’s assumption of office, marking the most significant cost-saving milestone in the history of the Bureau and perhaps in the entire continent by any government in a single budget cycle.”

NEFGAD observed that these gains were a clear demonstration that Nigeria’s procurement system was entering a new era defined by efficiency, national interest, and sustainable economic growth.

The organisation stressed that while the achievements were commendable, sustained reforms must be safeguarded through strict adherence to due process, impartial enforcement, and continuous transparency.

The group called on all stakeholders, including MDAs, civil society organisations, and the media, to actively engage in monitoring the implementation of procurement reforms, ensuring that the Nigeria First Policy achieves its intended goals without being hijacked by vested interests or manipulated for political patronage.

NEFGAD also urged the government to institutionalise best practices, consolidate savings, and expand the culture of accountability, warning that the long-term success of the reforms hinges on consistent oversight, robust regulatory frameworks, and unwavering political will.

According to NEFGAD, “the ongoing transformation of Nigeria’s procurement landscape is not only a victory for public finance management but also a template for good governance that other sectors can emulate.”

The organisation reiterated its commitment to supporting the government’s reform agenda through advocacy, capacity building, and independent monitoring, emphasising that procurement must continue to serve as a strategic driver of economic development, job creation, and national prosperity.