By Okeoghene Akubuike
Dr Adebowale Adedokun, Director-General (D-G), Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), has charged foreign missions to follow Nigeria’s procurement law to the letter.
Adedokun gave the charge in a statement by Zira Nagga, BPP’s Head of Press and Public Relations, in Abuja on Wednesday.
Adedokun gave the charge to the ambassador-designates at an induction ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He said Nigeria’s foreign missions were federal procuring entities bound by the Public Procurement Act 2007.
“All procurement by missions, whether goods, works or services, must comply with due process, transparency, competition, accountability and value-for-money,” he said.
The D-G stressed that mission heads functioned as accounting officers.
“So long as it is a public fund, it must be used in line with the financial regulations and the Public Procurement Act.”
Adedokun stated that procurement must be planned, backed by approved budgets, and cleared through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to him, adherence to approved thresholds is mandatory.
Adedokun described procurement as a tool for good governance that guided quality and timely delivery.
He urged training for mission officers and written endorsements for contractors, not verbal deals, adding that every contractor must meet mandatory eligibility criteria.
The D-G highlighted reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to include the Nigeria First Policy which champions pushing Made-in-Nigeria products and Affirmative Procurement for women, youth, SMEs, PWDs, and veterans.
Other reforms he said were the Debarment Policy against fraudulent players; and Community-based Procurement to drive grassroots projects.
“Procurement creates legacies that define your contribution to humanity,” he said.
The induction covers new Ambassadors and High Commissioners before foreign posting. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi
