Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: public procurement

  • Federal High Court Halts BPP’s Certification Convocation Following Legal Challenge

    Federal High Court Halts BPP’s Certification Convocation Following Legal Challenge

    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

  • Court Orders NDDC to Publish Forensic Audit Within 90 Days, Raising the Bar on Transparency

    Court Orders NDDC to Publish Forensic Audit Within 90 Days, Raising the Bar on Transparency

    Photo Credit: Punch

    2025-12-17

    From court filings cited by *The Punch*, a court has reportedly given the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) a 90‑day window to publish its long-awaited forensic audit report.

    The decision renews public attention on how intervention funds have been spent in the Niger Delta and whether alleged project inflation, abandoned contracts, and procurement lapses will be formally documented.

    If the report is released in full, it could influence prosecutions, contract reviews, and a broader reset of how the NDDC plans and executes projects.

    Other reporting on the same development includes:
    – Channels TV: “Civil society groups say publication is essential for accountability in the Niger Delta.”
    – Premium Times: “Transparency advocates argue the audit should be released without redactions.”

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: Publication is only step one—action is step two. Watch whether the report triggers recoveries, blacklisting, and a credible reform plan, or whether it becomes another document that sparks headlines without consequences.

    Source: The Punch — December 17, 2025 (https://punchng.com/court-gives-nddc-90-days-to-publish-forensic-audit-report/)