Posted by Chinenye on Tue 06th Oct, 2026 - tori.ng
The Federal Government has introduced a new rule that will make government agencies wait 14 days before finalising public contracts.
(Senator George Akume. Photo Credit: OSGF)
The Federal Government has ordered all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to wait 14 calendar days before signing any public procurement contract.
Any agency that fails to obey could face sanctions.
The order came from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, in a circular sent to ministers, permanent secretaries, heads of agencies and accounting officers.
It takes effect immediately and covers both ongoing and future procurement.
Under the new rule, once an award is approved, the agency must tell all bidders who is set to win.
It must then hold off for 14 days before signing the contract or letting the Letter of Award take effect.
The idea is to give bidders who lost a chance to ask questions or complain before the deal is sealed.
The circular says no contract can be signed and no Letter of Award can become effective until the 14 days are over.
If a complaint comes in during that period, the agency must treat it quickly under the Public Procurement Act, 2007, and Bureau of Public Procurement guidelines.
Further steps toward signing the contract are to be put on hold until the matter is settled, where applicable.
This does not mean every complaint will automatically cancel a contract.
Procurement officers must also keep proper records, including notices sent to bidders, complaints received and what was done about them.
Accounting officers are to share the directive with their tenders boards, planning committees and procurement departments.
The move is part of wider efforts this year to tighten how government spends public money.
In February, the BPP moved procurement requests from MDAs to a digital portal.
In May, new rules on contract variations required agencies to publish details of approved changes to contract sums and project scope.
In June, BPP Director-General Adebowale Adedokun said revised thresholds had cut the Federal Executive Council's role in routine contract approvals to reduce delays.
For agencies, this means building the 14-day wait into their award timelines, making sure every bidder gets notice and keeping records of any objections.
Akume ended the circular by saying strict compliance is advised.