…reforms will make inclusion of women in public contracting mandatory, not optional
…and include stiffer penalties
Nigeria’s public procurement system is set for a major shift, as the Federal Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) moves to strictly enforce the National Affirmative Procurement Policy to empower women, create jobs, and promote inclusive growth.
At the centre of the changes is enforcement which includes penalties for government agencies that fail to comply. The reforms will make inclusion in public contracting mandatory, not optional, signalling a tougher regulatory stance aimed at widening economic participation.
This follows renewed commitments made by the government and development partners at a forum titled: ‘Gender on the Tender forum’, organized by the Inter-Bau Foundation for Women and Youths, founded by Doris Mbadiwe, with support from the German Cooperation (GIZ) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
Delivering the keynote address, Adebowale A. Adedokun, director-general of the BPP noted that compliance will no longer rely on goodwill or discretion. “Failure by government agencies to comply with affirmative procurement provisions will constitute a violation of the law,” he said, adding that “compliance will be enforced, regardless of who is involved.”
To support this shift, the Bureau also intends to strengthen its monitoring and sanctions framework, ensuring that defaulting agencies face clear regulatory consequences. The move, Adedokun said, is designed to turn affirmative procurement from a policy aspiration into a binding obligation across the public sector.
Read also: Senate calls for transparency, strict compliance in public procurement
“We need strong accountability mechanisms to ensure that inclusive procurement translates into enterprise growth, quality jobs and sustained economic impact,” he said, urging stakeholders to sustain engagement beyond the event and into the months ahead.
He added that the federal government, with the backing of development partners, remains committed to deepening collaboration across the entire value chain to build a more inclusive procurement landscape.
The enforcement drive is part of a broader effort to reposition public procurement as a tool for inclusive economic growth. For years, Adedokun noted, support for women, youth and other vulnerable groups remained fragmented and largely symbolic. “Over the last decade, support for these groups has been treated as palliatives, rather than as a deliberate economic strategy,” he said. Under the new framework, inclusion is embedded directly into procurement rules, making it measurable and enforceable.
Digitisation of procurement processes
Alongside tougher compliance measures, the BPP is accelerating the digitization of procurement processes. Online training, registration and bidding platforms are being expanded to reduce discretion, limit physical contact and curb informal practices. According to Adedokun, “online training and digital procurement will eliminate unnecessary physical contact and reduce harassment,” while ensuring that government opportunities reach eligible businesses directly, without lobbying.
The revised policy also introduces clearer eligibility and governance standards. Women-owned or women-led businesses will be required to demonstrate at least 51 percent ownership or operational control, as well as basic governance structures. Adedokun stressed that access must go hand in hand with accountability, noting that “a one-person business without governance cannot be trusted with public funds.”
Read also: Training youths in procurement, project management could create up to 130,000 jobs – NBS
Prioritizing persons with disabilities, veterans, IDPs, others
Beyond women and youth, the framework formally prioritizes persons with disabilities, veterans, the elderly and internally displaced persons (IDPs). By recognizing these groups within procurement rules, the Bureau aims to shift inclusion from policy statements to enforceable rights. Public procurement, Adedokun said, remains “the fulcrum for bringing everyone into the economic system.”
At the macroeconomic level, the BPP views the reforms as a growth strategy. With public procurement accounting for between 10 and 25 percent of Nigeria’s GDP, but less than five percent currently reaching these groups, the Bureau believes stricter enforcement could unlock business growth, job creation and productivity. Inclusive procurement, Adedokun said, “drives job creation, reduces poverty, improves efficiency and strengthens national development,” and is central to Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.
Taken together, the reforms mark a shift from voluntary inclusion to enforceable economic governance, positioning public procurement as a key lever for reshaping participation in Nigeria’s economy.
