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Daniel Adaji
The Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) has endorsed the newly launched Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement (SPESSE) Certification Portal, describing it as a transformative tool for Nigeria’s public procurement system.
Speaking at the official launch of the Portal on Wednesday, at the UBEC Facility in Abuja, BPSR Director-General, Mr. Dasuki Arabi, said the portal will promote transparency, professionalism, and ethical standards in government procurement.
“This initiative is not just about unveiling a digital platform—it is a bold step toward aligning our procurement processes with global best practices,” Arabi stated.
“It will protect the environment, promote social responsibility, and support ethical governance.”
The SPESSE Portal, developed by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and its technical partners, aims to overhaul Nigeria’s procurement practices by embedding sustainability, inclusiveness, and accountability in the system.
The platform is designed to strengthen institutional capacity, foster collaboration between state and non-state actors, and address long-standing challenges in procurement.
Arabi emphasised the importance of the portal to the federal reform agenda. “The project aligns with the service delivery focus of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said, urging ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) as well as civil society and private sector players to adopt and actively use the platform.
The BPSR has consistently championed procurement reform through its programs. According to Arabi, public procurement modules have been incorporated into induction training for new heads of agencies, while BPP compliance has become a key metric in MDA scorecards and self-assessment tools.
Arabi also recalled a recent visit to the BPP earlier in the year, where both agencies agreed to deepen collaboration to ensure greater compliance with the Public Procurement Act.
He noted that the SPESSE Portal will expand access to procurement opportunities for small and medium enterprises, foster innovation, and ensure efficient public service delivery. “The benefits are enormous,” he added.
The BPSR DG called for continued awareness, funding, and compliance to ensure the sustainability of the platform, while also recommending a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to measure progress.