FG Enforces New Guidelines on Contract Variations in MDAs

The Federal Government of Nigeria has initiated a crackdown on unapproved contract variations within Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) by issuing new guidelines through the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP). These guidelines, which replace the previous 2013 framework, mandate that any request for contract variations, regardless of size, must first be submitted to the BPP for certification.

This certification is a prerequisite for further action and is valid for six months. The guidelines aim to prevent cost inflation and scope creep in public contracts.

Variations exceeding N10 billion will require approval from the Federal Executive Council, while those between N5 billion and N10 billion will go through the ministerial tender board. Additionally, the guidelines prohibit using contract variations to award new projects and require MDAs to publish details of approved variations on the BPP portal within 30 days.

The BPP, led by Director General Adebowale Adedokun, emphasizes that these measures are essential for delivering value and maintaining integrity in Nigeria's public procurement system.