PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT

An Act governs how government ministries and agencies spend public money to acquire goods and services. It sets clear rules for both government buyers and private businesses participating in procurement. The law ensures transparency, accountability, and fair competition in all public spending.

What Is This Policy?

The Public Procurement Act (PPA) is the "rulebook" for how the Nigerian government spends public money to buy things. Passed in 2007, its main purpose is to ensure that when a government ministry or agency (like the Ministry of Education) wants to build a school, or hire a consultant, they do it fairly and transparently rather than diverting public funds.

Who Does It Target?

The Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007 "targets" three main groups. It regulates the buyers (government), sets rules for the sellers (private businesses), and provides oversight through regulators to make sure companies and people pay fair taxes on their profits and earnings

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

It aims to achieve transparency, accountability , fairness and equal opportunity when dealing with public funds

Key Features

The "Certificate of No Objection" This is perhaps the most famous feature of the Act. For contracts above a certain financial limit, an agency cannot award the project unless the BPP issues this certificate. It serves as a "clean bill of health," confirming that the agency followed every rule in the PPA Open Competitive Bidding (The Default) The Act mandates that Open Competitive Bidding is the primary method for procurement. Procurement Planning & Financial Rules The Act strictly forbids "emergency" spending that isn't actually an emergency.

Procurement Plans: Every agency must submit a plan at the start of the year. If it’s not in the plan, it shouldn’t be bought

Current Status

Rollout Stage: Full Digital Transition (e-GP Phase) Coverage: federal scope Beneficiaries to Date: citizens and economy of the nation Funding: budget allocation and international grant Important Term Procuring Entity: Any public body (Ministry, Department, Agency, or Government Corporation) using public funds to acquire goods or services.

Accounting Officer: The person at the top of an agency (usually the Permanent Secretary or Director-General) who is personally and legally responsible for ensuring the procurement follows the law.
Approving Authority: The specific person or committee (like the Tenders Board or the Federal Executive Council) authorized to "sign off" on a contract based on its monetary value.

Official Resources

Main Website: www.bpp.gov.ng
e-Procurement Portal (P-COMS): pcoms.bpp.gov.ng (Used for submitting procurement plans and tracking approvals).
Contractor Registration Portal: https://federalcontractors.bpp.gov.ng (For categorization and classification of businesses).
Open Contracting Portal (NOCOPO): www.nocopo.bpp.gov.ng (For public tracking of contract data and awards). Head Office Contact Details
Address: Plot 256, Zone AO, Off Herbert Macaulay Way, Central Business District (Behind Unity Bank), FCT – Abuja, Nigeria.
Alternative Location: No. 11 Suleiman Barau Street, Presidential Villa, Asokoro, Abuja.
General Inquiries: [email protected]
Technical/Digital Support: [email protected] or [email protected]
General Phone Lines: 09051182835 | +234-9-625-2377 Link to document

Legal Framework

The Public Procurement Act 2007 is Nigeria's primary procurement legislation. It operates under the authority of Section 80 of the 1999 Constitution (which governs the Consolidated Revenue Fund) and the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007. The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) is established under the Act to enforce procurement standards, and the Act aligns with the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Public Procurement.