Tinubu’s procurement reform will promote accountability, restore public trust, says NEFGAD

The Network for the Actualisation of Social Growth and Viable Development (NEFGAD) has commended President Bola Tinubu for approving a sweeping reform of public procurement thresholds for federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, Akingunola Omoniyi, NEFGAD’s country head of office, described the move as “bold and visionary”.

He said the reform shows a clear commitment to transparency, efficiency and decentralisation by the president.

Omoniyi added that the restructuring of contract approval limits across the federal executive council (FEC), ministerial and parastatal tender boards, and accounting officers would help streamline the procurement process and reduce delays.

He stressed that the move would streamline the procurement process, enable faster decision-making, and reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, as well as allow the FEC to refocus on critical national policy issues rather than routine administrative approvals.

“This decision aligns with NEFGAD’s longstanding advocacy for the unbundling of contract approval thresholds, which have historically placed disproportionate approval powers in the hands of the Federal Executive Council—an organ that should primarily be concerned with policy direction, not contract approvals,” the statement reads.

Omoniyi also praised the president’s focus on transparency, especially the requirement for MDAs to publish monthly procurement reports on their websites and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) portal.

He said the reform in the procurement process would promote accountability and strengthen public trust in government institutions.

He said NEFGAD welcomed the “Nigeria first policy”, which prioritises local goods and contractors, describing the initiative as a strategic step to boost the local economy and empower indigenous businesses.

He also applauded the decision to mandate the use of BPP-accredited trainers for procurement training, saying it would deepen capacity and professionalism in public service.

“This is the kind of leadership that drives meaningful development and restores public confidence in governance,” he noted.

He described the reforms as a landmark step” towards a more inclusive and efficient procurement system that puts Nigeria’s interests first.

This is an AI-assisted report.