Vice President Kashim Shettima has disclosed that ongoing public procurement reforms implemented by the Federal Government saved the nation more than ₦1.1 trillion in 2025, describing the reforms as a major step towards strengthening transparency, accountability and fiscal discipline in public spending.
Shettima made the disclosure on Friday in a keynote address delivered on his behalf by the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Prof. Tunji Olaopa, at the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF)-Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Permanent Secretaries’ Retreat in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
The retreat, themed “Strengthening Procurement Leadership and Accountability for Effective Budget Execution and National Development,” is scheduled to conclude on July 12.
According to the vice president, the transformation taking place at the Bureau of Public Procurement represents one of the Federal Government’s most significant institutional reforms aimed at improving governance and driving national development.
He revealed that the government has introduced 23 strategic initiatives and reforms designed to enhance transparency, accountability and fiscal discipline, noting that some of the measures generated savings exceeding ₦1.1 trillion within a single year.
Among the reforms, Shettima highlighted adjustments to procurement thresholds, which now allow contracts valued below ₦5 billion for goods and services and ₦10 billion for works to be approved by Ministerial Tender Boards instead of the Federal Executive Council. He also cited the implementation of the Nigeria First Policy, which gives priority to locally produced goods and services that meet international standards, as well as the approval of seven new zonal offices to strengthen compliance and enforcement nationwide.
He stressed that public procurement occupies a central position in governance because it accounts for a significant share of government expenditure.
“Every road constructed, every hospital equipped, every school rehabilitated, every agricultural intervention implemented and every digital platform deployed passes through the procurement process. Therefore, the reforms reinforce the Federal Government’s commitment to fiscal discipline, transparency and value for money under the Renewed Hope Agenda. Our administration will follow through these reforms religiously and ensure that all MDAs comply,” he said.
Shettima warned that the government would not hesitate to impose sanctions, including prosecution, on officials and institutions that violate procurement laws and regulations.
He described procurement as no longer merely an administrative or compliance function but a strategic instrument for economic growth, industrial development, local content promotion, infrastructure delivery, value for money and public trust.
“When procurement works well, government delivers. When procurement fails, development suffers. The challenge before us, therefore, is not merely compliance with procurement procedures but strengthening procurement leadership.
“Leadership means ensuring that procurement planning begins early and aligns with approved budgets. Leadership means insisting on professionalism throughout the procurement cycle. Leadership means resisting undue influence, protecting institutional integrity and making decisions solely in the public interest. Leadership means ensuring that contracts are completed on schedule, within cost and according to specification.
“Leadership means building institutions that outlive individuals,” he stated.
The vice president said permanent secretaries, as accounting officers, have a critical responsibility to uphold financial discipline across ministries, departments and agencies by ensuring compliance with the Public Procurement Act and financial regulations while promoting transparency, professionalism and ethical conduct.
He identified weak procurement planning as one of the major obstacles to effective budget implementation, noting that procurement activities often begin long after budgets have been approved, leading to delays in project execution, higher costs and reduced developmental impact.
According to him, improving budget performance requires procurement to become more strategic through stronger collaboration among finance, planning, procurement and technical departments, as well as greater use of data, technology and evidence-based decision-making.
Shettima added that digital innovations, including electronic document management systems, integrated financial management platforms and data analytics, would improve transparency, shorten procurement timelines, reduce human discretion and strengthen public confidence in government spending.
He, however, maintained that institutional reforms can only succeed when supported by integrity and ethical leadership.
“Integrity remains the most valuable asset in public administration. No amount of technology can substitute for ethical leadership. No legal framework can replace personal accountability. No reform programme can succeed without leaders who consistently place national interest above personal interest,” he said.
The vice president commended the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, and the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, for organising the retreat, while also praising permanent secretaries for providing administrative leadership across ministries and extra-ministerial departments and agencies.
