Integrity in public procurement key to national development — Olaopa

The Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Prof. Tunji Olaopa, has said that strengthening integrity in public procurement is critical to driving national development and improving government expenditure outcomes.

Olaopa spoke on Saturday at a webinar organised by the Procurement Professionals Association of Nigeria (PPAN), where he delivered a lecture titled “Enthroning Integrity in Public Expenditure: A Procurement Question.”

He described public procurement as more than a purchasing function, noting that it serves as a key instrument for budget implementation and economic growth, particularly in advancing the ‘Nigeria First’ and local content policies.

According to him, the effectiveness of procurement processes determines how well Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) translate budgetary allocations into tangible outcomes such as infrastructure, healthcare services, education, and security systems.

Olaopa, however, lamented that procurement has increasingly become a high-risk area for corruption, collusion, and mismanagement, stressing the need for reforms to maximise its value.

He emphasised the importance of professionalising the procurement cadre and strengthening capacity development through initiatives such as the Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement (SPESSE) programme.

“Cadre professionalisation and SPESSE are defining strengths and enablers for building procurement competence, certification, and standards, while also providing a framework for sustainable capacity development across the sector,” he said.

The FCSC chairman also called for a shift in mindset from viewing contracts as tools for patronage to instruments of public value, urging the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to move beyond its traditional gatekeeping role to become a system architect that drives transparency, accountability, and efficiency in procurement processes.