Federal Govt Enforces 14-Day Order On Public Procurement In MDAs

The federal authorities has issued a  directive requiring all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and Procuring Entities to implement a compulsory 14-Calendar-day standstill interval earlier than finalising any public procurement contract awards.

The directive is contained in a round signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume with Ref. No. SGF.50/S.52/III/727 dated August 6, 2026.

The Acting head, public relations, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Ngozi Anyaelezu, who introduced this yesterday, stated the choice was in furtherance of  authorities’s dedication to transparency, accountability, equity and value-for-money.

“To this end, the Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale A, Adedokun, has urged all accounting officers to ensure that all procurement planning committees, Tenders boards, and procurement departments comply with the rules,” the assertion stated.

It emphasised that topic to this round, the standstill interval supplies unsuccessful bidders a possibility to hunt clarification, request debriefing or lodge complaints earlier than a contract is concluded.

“The discover should determine the profitable bidder and contract sum, whereas informing unsuccessful bidders of their proper to hunt debriefing or submit complaints in step with the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

“Under the directive, as soon as a contract award advice is authorized by the suitable authority, a Notice of Intended Award should be issued concurrently to all taking part bidders.

“No contract agreement is to be carried out, and no Letter of Award is to become effective, until the 14-day standstill period expires,”  Anyaelezu said.

The round additional directs procuring entities to promptly handle any criticism or protest obtained in the course of the interval in accordance with the executive overview procedures beneath the Public Procurement Act and related BPP pointers.

The authorities additionally directed procurement officers to keep up correct information of notices issued, complaints obtained and actions taken to exhibit compliance with the requirement.

The DG warned that failure by a procuring entity to adjust to the necessary standstill interval might appeal to administrative sanctions beneath the Public Procurement Act and different relevant laws.