The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN) has said the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) does not have the legal authority to certify procurement practitioners in the country, noting that it is exclusively the role of CIPSMN under its establishing Act.

CIPSMN’s Registrar, Prof. M Aliyu, in a statement, pointed out that though the Public Procurement Act 2007 gives the BPP broad administrative powers to engage in partnerships and capacity-building activities, it does not grant the BPP legal authority to certify procurement practitioners to practise professionally.

He maintained that any certification programme by BPP in collaboration with any organisation, local or international that seeks to authorise individuals to practise procurement in Nigeria without CIPSMN’s approval, is unlawful and would be challenged by all means possible.

Aliyu said: “The recent launch of the so-called ‘National Procurement Certification Project’ on Wednesday, April 30, by the BPP, in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Procurement, United Kingdom (CIPS-UK) and with support from the World Bank in Nigeria is not only in conflict with the extant laws of Nigeria, but a violation of Section 16 of the CIPSMN (Act).

And a gross violation of the establishment Act and other extant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including the Public Procurement Act 14 of 2007.”