Reporting by The Punch indicates that the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to suspend its planned certification convocation and policy dialogue. Justice Obiora Egwuatu granted an interim injunction following an application by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN), which is challenging the BPP’s authority to issue practice licenses to procurement trainers.
The dispute reflects a jurisdictional battle over who regulates professional standards in public procurement. The court’s order pauses BPP’s planned session until the substantive suit is heard, and the Attorney-General of the Federation is joined as a defendant.
ThisDay corroborated the restraining order, while Vanguard quoted the CIPSMN President asserting that licensing powers are vested in the institute by its 2007 Establishment Act.
Echotitbits take: This is a classic turf war between a regulator and a professional body. The judgment will influence who “gatekeeps” procurement credentials—and could affect how procurement capacity-building is structured across MDAs that manage billions of naira in contracts.
Source: The Punch — https://punchng.com/court-orders-bpp-to-halt-certification-programme/ 2026-01-29
Photo Credit: The Punch
