RismadarVoice Reporters, July 6, 2026
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Procurement, Rt. Hon. Unyime Idem, has called for the establishment of a Public Procurement Tribunal (PPT) and the upgrade of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) into a Public Procurement Commission (PPC) as part of far-reaching reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s public procurement system.
Idem made the recommendations on Monday during a retreat on Public Procurement Reforms for Effective Legislative Functions for members of the House Committee on Public Procurement and the Bureau of Public Procurement in Abuja.
The retreat focused on reviewing the Public Procurement Act, 2007, to align it with contemporary governance and accountability standards.
According to the federal lawmaker, the proposed Public Procurement Tribunal should be empowered to adjudicate procurement-related offences and prosecute violators of the Public Procurement Act, while transforming the BPP into a Public Procurement Commission would expand its operational scope, improve efficiency and enhance oversight responsibilities.
The lawmaker also proposed several key amendments to strengthen the procurement framework, including sustainable funding for the proposed Commission, full implementation of e-procurement, recruitment of personnel across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to improve compliance monitoring, and continuous capacity building for procurement professionals.
Other recommendations include stricter enforcement of compliance by public institutions, ensuring that Ministries, Departments and Agencies award contracts only when funds are available to prevent project abandonment, resolving areas of conflict between the Public Procurement Act and the Finance Act, reviewing government equity in certain organisations, and re-examining policies on contract mobilisation.
Rt. Hon. Idem noted that the House Committee on Public Procurement is expected to present the proposed amendment bill to the National Assembly before the end of the year.
He described the retreat as part of ongoing stakeholder engagements aimed at developing a modern procurement law capable of promoting transparency, accountability, efficiency and value for money in public expenditure.
“As Chairman of the House Committee on Public Procurement, I remain committed to advancing legislative reforms that will strengthen public institutions, improve governance and ensure that every kobo of public funds is judiciously utilised in the interest of the Nigerian people,” he said.
