The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), in partnership with the World Bank and below the Sustainable Procurement Environmental and Social Requirements Enhancement (SPESSE) Venture, has formally launched the Nigeria Procurement Certification Portal.
The portal is a centralized digital platform geared toward coaching, assessing, and certifying procurement professionals throughout the nation.
The event was introduced in a press launch signed by Zira Zakka Nagga, Head of Public Relations at BPP.
Dr. Adebowale A. Adedokun, Director-Normal of the Bureau, on the flag-off ceremony in Abuja, described it as a significant step in reforming Nigeria’s procurement system and recommended President Tinubu for supporting its professionalization.
“Immediately’s occasion marks the precise take-off that consolidates the method to constructing capability of private and non-private procurement officers who’re doing enterprise with the Federal Authorities.
“The Bureau is encouraging skilled our bodies to help in constructing sector-based procurement experience that can match that of the personal sector, and finally scale back poverty, scale back subjectivity, turnaround time, wastages, and improve job alternatives for graduates,” he mentioned
He defined that the capacity-building effort goals to deepen the data, mastery, and abilities of procurement officers to satisfy stakeholder expectations and guarantee efficient administration of public assets.
Programme rollout and gender inclusion
Dr. Adebowale emphasised that the certification programme, supported by each the Federal Authorities and worldwide companions, together with the World Bank and SPESSE, will likely be applied in phases.
He mentioned it can start from the “Six Centres of Excellence” and can embrace collaboration with Affirmative Procurement, which promotes gender sensitivity with 30% of procurement Officers being ladies.
“Over 7,000 procurement Officers have been skilled and of which 30% are ladies.”
Civil Service makes certification obligatory
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, revealed that the Workplace of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation is revising the Public Service Guidelines and different associated circulars, making procurement certification a compulsory requirement for officers.
“In at present’s more and more advanced procurement atmosphere, certification is now not optionally available, and it’s elementary to institutionalize procurement processes.
Including that, the Workplace of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) is presently reviewing the Public Service rule and different associated circulars, as at present’s occasion has made it a compulsory requirement that solely well-trained and authorized procurement officers would handle procurement processes,” she mentioned.
She inspired procurement officers throughout Ministries, Departments, and Businesses (MDAs) to enrol within the certification programme.
Mrs. Walson-Jack urged all MDAs to allocate funds particularly for the coaching and capability constructing of their workers.
Extra insights
The Honourable Minister of Info and Nationwide Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, described the certification programme as a “transformation device” that can drive reforms consistent with worldwide requirements.
He referred to as for widespread consciousness and media involvement to make sure the initiative is known and monitored successfully.
Chief Adebayo Olawale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economic system, who represented the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, described the certification initiative as a “legacy undertaking” central to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He praised the Bureau’s efforts, highlighted its function in encouraging youths to remain in Nigeria by way of globally acknowledged certifications, and famous that Nigeria is the primary nation to safe World Bank credit score for complete procurement reform.
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