NRS, BPP MOVE TO REWRITE PROCUREMENT LAW, TARGET WASTE OF TAXPAYERS’ MONEY

The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) are working towards reforming Nigeria’s public procurement framework to curb waste of taxpayers’ money, improve transparency and strengthen accountability in government spending.

The proposed reform is expected to address weaknesses in the procurement process, including inflated contract costs, delays in project execution, inadequate oversight and practices that undermine value for money in public projects.

Public procurement accounts for a significant share of government expenditure, covering infrastructure, equipment, supplies and services across federal ministries, departments and agencies. Stakeholders say strengthening the legal framework could help ensure that public funds are used efficiently and that contracts are awarded through transparent and competitive procedures.

The initiative also reflects growing concerns about the need to improve public financial management as the government seeks to expand revenue generation and ensure that available resources deliver measurable benefits to citizens.

The Executive Chairman of the NRS, Zacch Adedeji, made the commitment during a strategic meeting with the Director-General of the BPP, Adebowale Adedokun, and their technical teams in Abuja. He said effective procurement was essential to ensuring that taxes collected from citizens translated into completed projects and tangible public benefits.

Adedeji argued that abandoned projects represented wasted public resources, whether financed through tax revenue or borrowing that would eventually be repaid by taxpayers. He pledged personnel, funding and technical support from the NRS to help advance the proposed amendments to the Public Procurement Act of 2007.

Adedokun disclosed that the BPP was pursuing at least 29 reforms, including electronic procurement covering the process from needs assessment to payment, community-based contracting and procurement procedures tailored to different sectors. The proposals also include measures to widen access to government contracts for young people, women, persons with disabilities and military veterans.

The BPP chief said procurement decisions should prioritise value for money rather than automatically selecting the lowest bidder. He explained that projects in sectors such as construction and healthcare require different approaches, and that contractor classification and verification would help government agencies select businesses with the appropriate technical and financial capacity.

The agencies also identified the need for a comprehensive national database of contractors to improve transparency, strengthen oversight and support compliance with tax obligations. A technical committee is expected to help identify provisions of the existing law that require amendment.

The proposed reforms will require legislative action before changes to the law can take effect. Both agencies said their collaboration would focus on improving project delivery, reducing waste and ensuring that public expenditure produces better results for Nigerians.