The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS).

This is to promote fairness, transparency in the public procurement system.

A statement by Zira Nagga, head, press and public relations, BPP, on Friday in Abuja, said that the partnership would ensure adherence to the rule of law in Nigeria’s procurement processes.

Mr Nagga said that it aims to enhance judicial understanding of procurement laws and processes, drive progress and create new laws to support transparency and accountability.

He said that key initiatives of the MoU included capacity-building programmes, annual lectures, seminars, and workshops for judges and stakeholders.

Mr Nagga said that the BPP-NIALS partnership was expected to yield significant benefits, including improved procurement outcomes, enhanced accountability, and strengthened public trust in government procurement processes.

Meanwhile, Adebowale Adedokun, BPP’s director-general, said that the collaboration between the two organisations was a crucial step towards ensuring justice and fairness in procurement processes.

“By empowering the judiciary, we can prevent corruption and ensure value for money in public procurement,” he said. 

Also, Abdulqadir Abikan, director-general, NIALS, thanked Mr Adedokun for the bureau’s impressive reforms and the director-general commitment to overhauling Nigeria’s procurement system.

Mr Abikan said that Nigeria was blessed with brilliant brains capable of transforming the country, stating that the BPP boss was one of them.

He said that concrete efforts were necessary to empower stakeholders in the procurement ecosystem and enable them to understand procurement processes and relevant laws, thereby reducing infringements.

Mr Abikan requested the BPP’s support in organising procurement training sessions to familiarise judges with the latest trends and practices in the procurement system, aimed at improving their effectiveness in adjudicating procurement-related cases. 

(NAN)