Adebowale Adedokun has officially assumed office as the new Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), pledging to uphold transparency and inclusivity while urging staff to eschew rumour-mongering. The handover ceremony took place at the BPP headquarters in Abuja, with the outgoing acting DG, Olusegun Omotola, passing the baton to Adedokun.

During his address, Adedokun identified rumour-mongering as a significant challenge facing the bureau, stressing the need for open communication.

“I can assure you that my administration will not compromise on merit, quality, and the development of staff,” he stated. “I will respect you and do what needs to be done to ensure the continuous growth of the bureau. My vision is to build a BPP staff that is exportable and of global standard.”

Adedokun also revealed plans to thoroughly review the handover notes of his predecessor and implement policies to empower women, youth, and persons with disabilities.

In his farewell speech, Omotola outlined the achievements of his tenure, which spanned from June 21 to November 18, 2024. Among these were the adoption of an open-door policy, improved procurement turnaround times, and an increase in the approval and procurement method threshold.

Omotola also addressed pressing challenges such as outdated salary structures, inadequate office space, and insufficient funding. He noted the strides made in addressing these issues, including submitting a proposal to the National Assembly to review the bureau’s salary structure, which has not been updated since 2011.

One notable reform introduced by Omotola was the cessation of contractors’ direct visits to the BPP office, ensuring all dealings are now conducted through Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). This move, he explained, was aimed at enhancing the bureau’s efficiency and professionalism.

“Contractors are no longer allowed into the BPP. BPP deals directly with the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs),” said Omotola.

Other achievements of the outgoing administration are, a proposal to the National Assembly to review the salary structure of the bureau, which has not been updated since 2011; as well as efforts to support enhanced budget ceiling of the BPP, to ensure the Bureau has access to increased funds to tend to, and expand its duties within and around public procurement.

Omotola, in his closing remarks, prayed for divine wisdom for his successor, expressing confidence in his ability to lead the bureau effectively.