News
Professional certification: Nigeria’s giant leap in public procurement reform
By Sufuyan Ojeifo
The National Procurement Certification Programme (NPCP), a flagship initiative of Nigeria’s Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), is redefining how the nation manages public resources.
Anchored in the World Bank-funded Sustainable Procurement, Environmental, and Social Standards Enhancement (SPESSE) programme, the initiative prioritises transparency, efficiency and good governance. By making professional certification compulsory for procurement officers, the NPCP ensures that only qualified professionals handle Nigeria’s vast procurement responsibilities, tackling inefficiencies, inflated contracts and public distrust.
To be clear, the NPCP, as part of SPESSE, represents more than a technical fix. It is a bold attempt to professionalise an ecosystem that has long struggled with weak capacity and inconsistent standards. SPESSE itself is backed by an 80-million-dollar World Bank grant [being the first tranche and an additional $65m recently approved] and designed to align procurement practice with global benchmarks for sustainability, environmental responsibility and social accountability. Six centres of excellence in Nigerian universities now form the backbone of this reform, providing training for a pipeline of skilled professionals. The NPCP acts as the gatekeeper by validating candidates’ mastery of procurement laws, ethics, and best practices under the Public Procurement Act of 2007.
This initiative is not merely a symbolic exercise but a decisive shift towards professionalism in public service. Nigeria’s procurement spending accounts for almost a third of the national budget, estimated at more than 30 billion dollars annually. That scale makes procurement a make-or-break determinant of national development. When roads fail before completion or hospitals are left unequipped despite heavy investment, the roots of the problem are almost always found in weak procurement oversight. The NPCP, combined with SPESSE’s training, provides the corrective mechanism.
Recently, 250 participants attended a virtual orientation session organised by the NPCP team. The Certification Support Unit Coordinator, Mr. Babatunde Oladele, outlined the objectives of the professional certification process. The BPP Director-General, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, delivered a clear message that professional certification was no longer optional but compulsory for all procurement officers, in line with broad institutional reforms. He stated that procurement officers would undergo Nigeria Procurement training modules covering Nigeria procurement laws, Category Management, ethical standards, environmental considerations, and global best practices. These modules, developed under SPESSE, are designed not only to strengthen technical competence but also to embed sustainability and social safeguards into daily procurement practices.
Participants were guided step by step on the Safe Exam Browser that would be used for the professional certification exam. The orientation included illustrated instructions on downloading and launching the browser and laid out clear rules for the process.
A lively question-and-answer session allowed participants to clarify doubts, reinforcing confidence that the process would be both transparent and fair. The SPESSE programme’s investment in digital accessibility was evident, ensuring that candidates from across Nigeria could participate without the logistical burden of travel, a mark of inclusion and scalability.
The first set of the professional certification examination was held three days later. Out of 330 qualified candidates, 325 took part in the virtual session, which ran from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm. The test was rigorous, drawing 60 questions at random from a pool of 150, with each candidate receiving a different mix. They had 75 minutes to complete their answers. Stringent security was in place, with webcams required to be active throughout and automatic logout for anyone who lost connection.
These measures might have been tough, but they underlined the seriousness of the process and the credibility of the results, which are under review.
The implications for Nigeria’s procurement ecosystem are significant. The Office of the Head of Civil Service has approved the creation of a procurement cadre, linking promotions directly to professional certification. This marks a historic change in career progression and creates strong incentives for officers to embrace the NPCP.
For now, SPESSE subsidies make participation free of charge, but with the World Bank already signalling that this will not last forever, officers are being urged to take the opportunity while it remains accessible. A future where professional certification incurs fees could exclude those who delay; so urgency is both rational and necessary.
The stakes are high. The BPP audit of 2024 showed that 63 per cent of federal contracts missed their deadlines. The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative estimated that 4.1 trillion naira was lost to inflated contracts between 2020 and 2024.
These are not abstract numbers. They translate into abandoned infrastructure, underfunded schools, ill-equipped hospitals, and frustrated citizens. The costly redesign of the Abuja–Lokoja Highway, which added 217 billion naira to the project due to weak contract supervision, is only one example of why reform is urgent.
By linking training at university centres of excellence with a rigorous, technology-driven professional certification process, the SPESSE programme offers a dual strategy to address these failures. Officers are being prepared not only to meet technical requirements but also to uphold ethical and sustainable standards.
Embedding environmental and social considerations in procurement training places Nigeria within global currents, such as climate-conscious contracting and equitable resource allocation. In practice, this means procurement officers will be trained to consider carbon footprints when evaluating contractors or to ensure that local communities are not disadvantaged by large infrastructure projects.
For a better contextual understanding, it should be noted that Nigeria’s ambitions draw inspiration from countries like Rwanda and Morocco, where more than 90 per cent of procurement officers are certified, and e-procurement adoption exceeds 80 per cent. Vietnam has also emerged as a leader in embedding sustainability into procurement. By introducing a digital, randomised, and secure professional certification process, Nigeria is signalling that it is ready to join this group of reformers and, in time, set the pace on the continent.
Challenges remain, and it is important not to ignore them. Unstable internet access, particularly in rural areas, can limit equitable participation. Technical support must be strengthened to deal with glitches such as sudden webcam disconnections. Some candidates have already expressed concerns that security measures, while necessary, may disadvantage those with weaker connectivity.
The SPESSE programme’s resources, including its partnerships with universities and international experts, provide a platform to tackle these hurdles. Sustaining political will and scaling infrastructure will be essential if the early momentum is not to be lost.
For the avoidance of doubt, the NPCP is not simply a bureaucratic innovation. It is a milestone in Nigeria’s governance journey, one that combines political will, World Bank support, and the leadership of the BPP.
The message is already clear. Procurement can no longer be left to outdated practices or informal arrangements. It must be anchored in professionalism, transparency, and competence.
The NPCP, powered by the SPESSE programme, is a statement of intent. It signals that Nigeria is serious about ensuring every naira spent delivers value and builds public trust. If sustained, it will not just reform procurement but revolutionise it, laying the foundation for a governance system that truly serves citizens and stands comparison with the best in the world.
● Sufuyan Ojeifo is a journalist and editor-in-chief of THE CONCLAVE online newspaper.
Former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate of the New Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has reflected on his past relationship with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, saying the former Rivers State governor appeared happier and healthier when they worked together.
Obi made the remarks while speaking about his relationship with Wike and the political developments ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
According to Obi, Wike seemed to enjoy himself more during the period they worked together.
“Wike was looking healthier when we were working together. When Wike and I were together, he was a much happier person and was enjoying himself,” Obi said.
The former governor also recounted an alleged remark attributed to Wike, claiming that someone had told him that the FCT minister once said he would become the “first president” if Obi eventually emerged as president.
“Someone even told me that Wike said if I became president, he would be the first president,” Obi added.
Obi, who was the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, also sought to explain his motivation for pursuing the presidency, saying his ambition was not driven by a desire to persecute political opponents.
“I’m not campaigning to be president to start pursuing people,” he said.
His comments come amid renewed political realignments and manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Obi and Wike now occupying different political positions from the period when they worked together.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of pushing Nigerians dangerously close to the limits of human endurance as he has turned petrol price dynamics into a punitive measure.
In a statement in Abuja, on Tuesday, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the party said with petrol now selling for as much as N1,470 per litre, every journey had become more expensive, while food and even basic education are being priced out the hands of citizens.
“President Tinubu has turned the petrol pump into an instrument of punishment for everyday Nigerians. Food, transportation, electricity, education, and everything Nigerians need to survive responds directly to the price of fuel and combine together to make life difficult for the majority of Nigerians,” he said.
Abdullahi said the widespread reports of private schools increasing fees by between 30 and 40 per cent is another evidence of how life has become progressively worse under the APC government.
“Parents are not earning 40 per cent more. Their salaries have not risen with the prices of fuel, food, rent, transportation, and school fees. Yet, at every turn, this government demands that already exhausted families pay more.
He said, “At N1,470 per litre, petrol is no longer simply a commodity. It is Tinubu Tax, which has made life unbearable for the majority. Under Tinubu and the APC, Nigerians have been tightening their belts. Now, there are no more holes left, and people have started to choke.
“Families are now skipping meals, withdrawing children from school, abandoning medical treatment and shutting down businesses,” it says, adding that the government could not continue demanding sacrifice from ordinary Nigerians while public officials funded extravagant lifestyles from the same public purse.
“A reform that continuously makes the people poorer is not working. An economic policy that produces impressive figures at government briefings but hunger in Nigerian homes is a failure. When parents must choose between feeding their children and educating them, the government has failed spectacularly in its most basic responsibility.”
The ADC spokesman said the 2027 election would present Nigerians with a clear choice between “carrying on with enduring President Tinubu’s punishment and embracing the relief programme proposed by the ADC presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.”
He restated the promise of Atiku Abubakar, ADC Presidential Candidate’s commitment to reduce the price of petrol by bringing back subsidy to support domestic production of fuel, which would, in turn, ease the cost of food, transportation and production.
“Unlike Tinubu and APC, we recognise that economic reform must serve the people, not sacrifice them. Nigeria cannot be an oil-producing country whose citizens experience every visit to a filling station as punishment.”
“Their resilience must not become an excuse for continued cruelty. Tinubu has had enough time and inflicted enough pain.
The people are suffering, businesses are dying, and hope is becoming increasingly expensive. President Tinubu must act now. Don’t push Nigerians to their limits.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction aligned with Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has warned governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against underestimating his political influence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The faction alleged that opposition to Wike’s political activities was driven partly by concerns among some governors over their electoral prospects, accusing them of poor performance and warning that attempts to undermine the minister could have political consequences.
The statement, issued on Tuesday by the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, came amid an escalating disagreement between Wike and the APC Governors’ Forum over the minister’s proposed “Rainbow Coalition” and his role in mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid. �
Premium Times Nigeria +1
The controversy intensified after Wike publicly accused Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of working against him.
During a media chat in Port Harcourt earlier this month, Wike accused AbdulRazaq of leading what he described as a campaign against him, including allegations that he was sponsoring politicians against the governor’s preferred candidates in Kwara State.
Wike said he had provided a political platform for aggrieved APC politicians and argued that such politicians could otherwise align with opposition forces hostile to Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election. He also recalled the political support he claimed to have extended to Uzodimma. �
Channels Television +1
The latest development follows a fresh confrontation between Wike and the APC Governors’ Forum.
The governors, led by Uzodimma, recently declared that they would not participate in or endorse any political alliance capable of weakening the APC, undermining Tinubu’s re-election bid or adversely affecting the party’s candidates at the state and federal levels. �
Premium Times Nigeria +1
Wike, however, has maintained that his Rainbow Coalition is primarily aimed at mobilising support for Tinubu and does not amount to an agreement with the APC. He has also insisted that his support for Tinubu does not prevent the PDP from fielding candidates in governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly elections in 2027. �
Premium Times Nigeria +1
Reacting to the governors’ position, the Wike-backed PDP faction said APC governors should focus on governance rather than attempting to dictate Wike’s political activities.
“The APC governors should also know that Wike is not their problem; their poor governance and fear of electoral defeat are the real problems,” the faction said.
It further argued that Wike’s record as Rivers State governor and his current role as FCT minister had demonstrated what it described as his capacity for project delivery, political organisation and electoral mobilisation.
The faction also questioned the priorities of the APC governors ahead of 2027, asking whether they were primarily concerned with securing President Tinubu’s re-election or protecting their individual political interests.
“A governor who truly wants the President to win should welcome every credible political force capable of contributing to that victory,” it said.
The PDP faction consequently urged the APC Governors’ Forum to concentrate on governance, accountability and performance rather than attempting to determine whom Wike should support.
The clash adds another layer to the widening political realignment ahead of the 2027 elections, with Wike backing Tinubu’s presidential bid while remaining a PDP member, and APC governors insisting on maintaining the party’s structure and candidates across the ballot. �
Premium Times
Obi: Wike Was Happier, Healthier When We Worked Together
N1,470/L: Tinubu has turned petrol pump into punitive measure– ADC
PDP Warns APC Governors: ‘Ignore Wike at Your Own Peril’
-
News21 hours agoKaru Residents Hail Tinubu, Wike As Road Project Ends Years Of Traffic, Flooding Woes(Photos)
-
News17 hours agoAbuja Residents Caught on camera Chasing APC Campaign Bus, Scrambling For Foodstuffs Ahead Of 2027 Elections
-
News22 hours agoWike’s Rainbow Coalition Will Deliver Tinubu in 2027 — Nwuche Assures
-
News17 hours ago2027: My support only for President Tinubu, I didn’t promise PDP won’t field candidates in other elections – Wike
-
News16 hours agoCourt Nullifies Onise of Ise’s Installation, Orders Lagos Govt To Withdraw Staff Of Office
-
News12 hours ago
2027: Uzodinma and his cohorts are politically lazy- Wike