Face the Candone Cedrone Gallo on the training and the BBP certification mandate

I read with interest a recent piece of Mohammed Bougei Atth, social worker, anti -corruption professional and national coordinator of the observation and patronage initiative of contracts, entitled “False declaration, interpretation on the certificates and professional certification of BP under Procurel”, published in Blueprint on May 21, 2025.

I also took note of another editorial intervention, “The role in conflict of BPP”, by Hussini Abdullahi, published in the Daily Trust of 1 July 2025. Both pieces, in my opinion, are in equal matters, the second building on the first to consolidate a common theme: the alleged usurpaggio of the Burismn audience) procurement (BPP).

Although it is encouraging to see the public interest in the reform of contracts, above all because Nigeria undertakes to institutionalize transparency and professionalism in the public service, these interventions, although spirits, are based on an incorrect reading of the law.

That fundamental incorrect reading of the relevant provisions of the existing law that establishes the BP must now be correct, loyal to the facts. To be clear, BPP does not operate outside its legal borders. On the contrary, its current training and certification efforts are firmly founded on the 2007 public approval (PPA).

The law is unequivocal, as well as the office’s mandate. I invite readers to reflect on the letter and the spirit of the deed:

Section 5 (C) allows the Presidency Office of “Subject to thresholds, which can be established by the Council, certify federal contracts before the contract prize”.

Section 5 (K) requires the presidency office to “organize training and development programs for contracts from contracts”. Section 5 (s) authorizes it to “coordinate the relevant training programs to develop institutional capacity”.

These are not aspirational clauses. They are binding provisions created to develop skills, deepen institutional integrity and equip the professionals of contracts the tools to safeguard the public stock exchange. By applying the literal rule of statutory interpretation, it is clear that legislators did not mean that these fundamental functions were donated to another entity.

The Certification Framework of the Bureau, now implemented through the Nigeria contract certification platform as part of the sustainable, environmental and social standards project (thick), an initiative sponsored by the World Bank, is a direct execution of these legal responsibilities. It is not a deviation from the law; It is the motorcycle law.

The program is designed to ensure that contracts between ministries, departments and agencies are not only formed, but also certified on the basis of rigorous standards rooted in the best national and international practices.

It should be reiterated that BPP is not trying to supplant the role of Cipsmn. The two institutions have distinct sent and there is ample space, in fact an urgent need, for both of them working as guided by their respective qualifying acts.

While CIPSMN focuses on the regulation of the largest profession, the BPP mandate is firmly located within the public supply ecosystem. His goal is to build a group of competent public procurement professionals who include public interest, conformity and value principles for money. This is the niche that the office is legally and strategically positioned to serve.

Furthermore, the collaboration of the Bureau with global institutions such as the World Bank and the Chartered Institute of Approvement and Supply (Cips-UK) is not a case of institutional overcoming.

Rather, it reflects a commitment to the ambition of Nigeria to modernize public contracts. These partnerships bring technical rigor, international benchmarking and system credibility to our reform efforts.

While the public discourse must host different points of view, when the law is explicit, our collective responsibility is to involve it in truth.

The misrepresentation of the BPP certification drive as an overcoming makes a disservice to the institutions that work diligently to lift the panorama of Nigeria contracts from mediocrity and in the future of competence and professionalism.

Therefore, in the spirit of national development and institutional clarity, this counteringer should be read both as a respectful correction and as a request for adherence to the clear provisions of the law. We base our topics in legislation, not in assumption. We elegant the conversation beyond territorialism, focusing on what really matters: taking on that public supply in Nigeria, people need people, save money and supports trust.

Finally, since Atth referred to a previous piece that I wrote, questioning my judgment inquipating the BPP to the Federal Government while supporting its independence, I must reply by saying that the BPP operates under the presidency. It is an integral part of the presidency. In fact, it is an agency established to recommend the president regarding supply.

I understand Atth’s desire to see the bureau operating independently of hourly, just like Incen or ICPC, who imagined having constitutional autonomy. But, as the law on the 2007 public supply (PPA) clarifies, it was not the intention of legislators in the case of BPP.