In a statement on Saturday, NEFGAD said the President’s address underscores the administration’s steadfast commitment to transparency, efficiency, and prudent management of public resources.

Signed by the organisation’s acting Head of Office, Barrister Unekwu Blessing Ojo, the statement applauded Tinubu’s revelation that the Federal Government began implementing a wide-ranging procurement reform framework in November 2024. NEFGAD described this as a decisive move toward strengthening due process, minimizing waste, and ensuring accountability across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

“The reforms have significantly shortened procurement timelines, improved compliance, and reinforced sanctions against erring contractors and public officials, establishing a new standard for governance and fiscal prudence,” the statement noted.

NEFGAD highlighted that November 2024 coincides with the appointment of Dr. Adebowale Adedokun as Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), confirming that the reforms are being driven under his leadership in line with the Tinubu administration’s policy direction.

The group also emphasized the significance of the Nigeria First Policy, which directs MDAs to prioritize Nigerian-made goods and local companies in public procurement. NEFGAD described the policy as a strategic initiative designed to enhance local content, boost domestic industries, create jobs, foster innovation, and reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imports.

According to NEFGAD, procurement is no longer merely an administrative exercise but a vital tool for national economic development and industrial growth.

The organisation commended the BPP for achieving over ₦1 trillion in savings within just one year through enhanced price intelligence and benchmarking mechanisms. “This surpasses the cumulative savings recorded by the BPP from 2007 to 2024, marking the most significant cost-saving milestone in the Bureau’s history and possibly across the continent within a single budget cycle,” the statement said.

NEFGAD said these achievements demonstrate that Nigeria’s procurement system is entering a new era defined by efficiency, national interest, and sustainable economic growth.

However, the group stressed that these reforms must be preserved through strict adherence to due process, impartial enforcement, and ongoing transparency. NEFGAD urged all stakeholders—including MDAs, civil society organizations, and the media—to actively monitor the implementation of procurement reforms, ensuring the Nigeria First Policy delivers its intended impact without being undermined by vested interests or political manipulation.

The organisation also called on the government to institutionalize best practices, consolidate savings, and foster a culture of accountability, emphasizing that the long-term success of the reforms depends on consistent oversight, robust regulatory frameworks, and strong political will.

NEFGAD concluded that the ongoing transformation of Nigeria’s procurement system is not only a landmark achievement in public finance management but also a model of good governance for other sectors to emulate.