The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, issued the warning in a circular directing accounting officers to comply strictly with the Public Procurement Act, 2007, as amended by the Finance Act, 2020. The directive was addressed to ministers, permanent secretaries and heads of government agencies and parastatals.
Akume expressed concern that some government-owned enterprises continued to award contracts without following established procurement procedures. He said the practice had resulted in contract sums exceeding approved price benchmarks, restricted competition through exclusive arrangements with contractors and weakened regulatory oversight.
The SGF consequently directed affected institutions to work with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) for guidance and ensure that procurement activities comply with the law. He also instructed accounting officers to circulate the directive among relevant officials for immediate implementation, warning that violations would attract appropriate penalties.
The warning follows earlier procurement reforms introduced by the BPP, requiring government agencies to obtain the bureau's certification before approving contract variations and upward revisions. The bureau has also cautioned that unauthorised changes to contract costs could lead to the suspension of responsible officers and possible debarment of contractors.
Your reaction
Story guide
Understand this story
Summary
The Federal Government has warned heads of public institutions against procurement practices that inflate project costs and undermine transparency, threatening sanctions for officials who disregard established regulations. The Federal Government has warned heads of government-owned agencies, corporations and other public institutions against awarding inflated contracts or violating procurement regulations, threatening sanctions for officials found culpable.The Secretary to the...
Key takeaways
- The Federal Government has warned heads of public institutions against procurement practices that inflate project costs and undermine transparency, threatening sanctions for officials who disregard established regulations.
- The Federal Government has warned heads of government-owned agencies, corporations and other public institutions against awarding inflated contracts or violating procurement regulations, threatening sanctions for officials found culpable.The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, issued the warning in a circular directing accounting officers to comply strictly with the Public Procurement Act, 2007, as amended by the Finance Act, 2020.
- The directive was addressed to ministers, permanent secretaries and heads of government agencies and parastatals.Akume expressed concern that some government-owned enterprises continued to award contracts without following established procurement procedures.
Article FAQ
What is this story about?
The Federal Government has warned heads of public institutions against procurement practices that inflate project costs and undermine transparency, threatening sanctions for officials who disregard established regulations. The Federal Government has warned heads of government-owned agencies, corporations and other public institutions against awarding inflated contracts or violating procurement regulations, threatening sanctions for officials found culpable.The Secretary to the...
Who published this story?
Glow 99.1 FM published this story with GlowRy Atuah listed as author.
When was it published?
November 2, 2026
