BPP HAS NO LEGAL MANDATE TO LICENSE PROCUREMENT TRAINERS OR CERTIFY PROFESSIONAL PRACTITIONERS
In response to BPP’s announcement on Licensing of Procurement Trainers Dated 6 August 2025 The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria has condemned the plan by the Bureau of Public Procurement to issue practice licences for procurement trainers in the country, describing it as illegal, misleading, and a violation of existing laws.
The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN) has noted with grave concern the recent press release issued by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), in which the Director-General, Dr. Adebowale A. Adedokun, announced plans by the Bureau to begin issuing practice licenses for procurement training in Nigeria.
While we commend ongoing efforts to reform and sanitize the public procurement space, we must express our strong reservations and firm objection to this proposal, which we consider ultra vires, legally unsound, and a direct violation of extant laws governing procurement practice in Nigeria.
Violation of Statutory Mandate
It is important to state, for public awareness and institutional clarity, that training and certification of procurement professionals in Nigeria is not within the statutory mandate of the BPP.
The enabling law of the Bureau, the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007, particularly Section 5(k), empowers the BPP to develop and promote training policies and programs for procurement personnel of ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs)—not to train or license practitioners or professional bodies. The intention of the law is clearly limited to building institutional capacity within government agencies, not regulating or licensing professional practice.
Furthermore, the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria Act, 2007, enacted by the National Assembly, confers the exclusive statutory authority on CIPSMN to:
1. Regulate and control the practice of the procurement and supply chain management profession in Nigeria; 2. Set standards for qualification, 3. Training, and Professional certification of practitioners; 4. Maintain the register of qualified procurement professionals in Nigeria; and to 5. Discipline erring members, in accordance with due process and the law.
Section 1(1) of the CIPSMN mandates the Institute to:
(a) determining and reviewing, from time to time, the academic standards, know ledge and skills that shall be attained by persons seeking to qualify as registered members of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management (in this Act referred to as “the Professional”)
(b) ensure that that our members maintain a reputable and high standard of behaviour expected of any professional in PROCUREMENT in Nigeria and other parts of the world
(c) provide for the training, education and examination of persons desiring to become Professional Procurers (Procurement Professional) according to the Institute’s Act in Nigeria
(d) regulate the discipline and professional conduct of our members
(e) promoting and projecting the welfare of our members in Nigeria and abroad
Furthermore, Section 11(8) of the CIPSMN Act 2007 states that the purchasing and supply professionals from abroad who reside in Nigeria and wish to practise shall, within 12 months after the commencement of this Act, seek registration with the Institute to become members.
Therefore, any attempt by another agency or body—regardless of their relevance in public procurement administration—to assume this exclusive professional mandate, amounts to an illegal encroachment, undermines the rule of law, and sets a dangerous precedent of institutional overreach.
BPP’s Action is Ultra Vires and Misleading
The Bureau’s plan to issue practice licenses for procurement trainers is not only legally flawed, but also misleading to the public and stakeholders, especially those unfamiliar with the legal delineation of roles in the Nigerian procurement ecosystem.
We are compelled to caution the Bureau that any such issuance of licenses to train or certify procurement practitioners is null and void, and any entity operating under such unauthorized license may be subject to legal sanctions under the CIPSMN Act and other applicable laws. BPP is a regulatory body and not a body of knowledge like the CIPSMN and other institutions of higher learning in Nigeria
Public Advisory
The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria hereby advises Nigerians at all levels—public, private, and non-profit sectors—not to fall victim to this illegality and deceitful act being perpetuated under the guise of reform. These unauthorized actions by BPP are temporary, lacking lawful foundation, and will not stand the test of legality or institutional scrutiny.
It is settled matter wherein Section 16(4) of the CIPSMN Act 2007 states that “A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable – (a) on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding N50.000.00; (b) on conviction or indictment to a fine not exceeding N20,000.00 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or both such fines and imprisonment.
Further it states clearly in Section 16(5) “Where an offence under this section which has been committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of or attributable to any neglect on the part of any director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the corporate body or any person purporting to act in such capacity, he, as well as the body corporate shall be deemed to have committed the offence and shall be liable to be prosecuted and punished accordingly.”
We therefore encourage all stakeholders to seek proper guidance, clarification and validation from CIPSMN before engaging with any body claiming to certify or license procurement professionals.
Call for Institutional Respect and Collaboration
As a responsible regulatory body, CIPSMN remains committed to strengthening procurement governance, professionalism, and transparency in Nigeria. However, this must be done within the framework of law, mutual respect, and institutional synergy.
We therefore call on the BPP to refrain from actions that encroach on statutory mandates of other bodies, and to consult relevant professional institutions in the spirit of collaboration and legal compliance.
Conclusions
The general public is hereby advised to further note the following sections 18 of the law which empowered the Institute to make rules as to practice: (a) for the training of registered members of the profession or suitable persons in purchasing and supply chain management methods; (b) for the supervision, regulation, engagement and training of such persons ; (c) prescribing the amount and date for payment of the annual subscriptions, and for such purpose, different amounts may be prescribed by the rules according to whether the member of the Institute is a fellow member, chartered member, graduate member, associate member, corporate member or honorary fellow member; (d) prescribing the form of license to practice to be issued annually or if the Council deems fit, by endorsement on an existing license; (e) restricting the right to practice as a chartered member of the profession in default of payment of the amount of the annual subscriptions where the default continues for longer than such period as may be prescribed by the rules;
(f) restricting the right to practice as a member of the profession if the qualification granted outside Nigeria does not entitle the holder in practice to be completed before a person qualifies for a license to practice as a member of the profession; and (g) prescribing the period of practical training in the office of a chartered member of the profession in a practice to be completed before a person qualifies for a license to practice as a member of the profession.
The CIPSMN Act 2007 also clearly states in Section 20 that “purchasing and supply professional” means any qualified member who is into practice or employed by any organization, ministry or warehouse management;
Let it be restated unequivocally that only CIPSMN is empowered by law to certify procurement professionals and license procurement practice in Nigeria.
Signed:
Alh. Sikiru Oladepo Balogun
President, CIPSMN
Abuja, Nigeria 6 August 2025