Only graduates with certification in procurement standards from the Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement (SPESSE) project will be considered for employment into the newly created procurement cadre of the Nigerian Civil Service, the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) has disclosed.
Director General of BPP, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, who made this known during the 2026 SPESSE Implementation Support Mission to the BPP, explained that this is part of the Federal Government’s intensified efforts to strengthen transparency, accountability, and professionalism in public procurement.
According to him, the Federal Government is introducing “Sustainable Procurement” as a specialised area for recruitment into the procurement cadre, creating a structured pathway for graduates already undergoing training at the Six SPESSE Centres of Excellence across the country to enable them to contribute to the public sector procurement reforms.”
The centres include Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; the Federal University of Technology, Owerri; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; the University of Lagos; the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (now Joseph Tarka University), and the University of Benin.
As part of ongoing efforts to modernise public procurement processes, the BPP boss said it is working with relevant stakeholders on the development of a National Procurement Strategic Framework and also amendments to the Public Procurement Act, 2007.
He also revealed the federal government’s approval for the establishment of seven zonal offices across the country to deepen the Bureau’s reach and improve procurement oversight nationwide and the decision to celebrate June 4 annually as National Procurement Day.
He informed the mission that the Bureau has recorded significant progress in its certification and professionalisation drive, with over 2,075 procurement officers verified and 816 certification results already received.
The World Bank SPESSE Task Team Lead, Ishtiak Siddique, who commended the BPP for the progress recorded, particularly in procurement certification and capacity-building efforts, described BPP and the team as partners working together on the same agenda.
“We hold our heads high because of what we have achieved. BPP is in good shape, and we will continue working together,” he said.
Siddique identified the planned launch of standard tender documents, procurement sustainability retreats, electronic procurement implementation and training support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by the BPP as priority activities the Bank will be supporting.
He stressed the need to sustain momentum on procurement reforms, describing electronic procurement as the next major milestone in Nigeria’s drive towards a more transparent and efficient public procurement system.
Officials at the meeting also reviewed progress on the National Procurement Officers Management System (NAPOMS), Nigeria Public Procurement Certification Programme (NPPCP) and strategies to strengthen collaboration with key institutions, including the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Federal Civil Service Commission.
