News Investigators/ The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) have inaugurated a committee for the 2026 Federal Permanent Secretaries’ Retreat.
A statement by Zira Nagga, BPP’s Head of Media and Public Relations in Abuja on Friday, said the joint committee was inaugurated to organise the retreat scheduled to hold from July 9 to July 12.
Mr Nagga said the inauguration took place during a strategic meeting of senior officials from both institutions.
He said that it marked the revival of a longstanding collaboration aimed at strengthening procurement capacity and governance within the Federal Civil Service.
Mr Nagga said the retreat had been held intermittently since 2008 as a high-level platform for enhancing procurement knowledge, addressing implementation challenges and strengthening collaboration between BPP and permanent secretaries overseeing MDAs and government parastatals.
He said the 2026 edition was expected to deepen strategic engagement and promote results-driven outcomes in support of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of BPP, Adebowale Adedokun, commended Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, the HCSF, for her transformational leadership and piroritising procurement for effective public service delivery.
Mr Adedokun described procurement as a critical component of government operations, noting that more than 80 per cent of government expenditure was executed through procurement processes.
“There is a long-standing synergy between the BPP and the OHCSF.
“This collaboration has strengthened procurement practice across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and has given the president the confidence to pursue far-reaching reforms.”
The BPP boss stressed the importance of the retreat, describing Permanent Secretaries as key drivers of government policy implementation in their roles as accounting officers.
According to him, effective governance depends on their understanding of procurement processes.
“The retreat provides a platform where challenges can be identified, solutions debated and alignment achieved.”
Mr Adedokun also underscored the urgency of the 2026 retreat, noting that implementation of the 2025/2026 budget was already underway.
“If there is any point in time to interrogate the challenges affecting implementation, it is now.
“This edition must not only be the best organised in terms of logistics, it must also deliver measurable impact within the public service,” he said.
Representing the HSCF, Dr Danjuma Kalba, Permanent Secretary, Common Services Office, said the retreat would further equip permanent secretaries with the knowledge required to ensure that limited public resources delivered value for money.
He assured the committee of the support of the OHCSF towards the success of the programme.
“Our operating mantra is clear – there is no sleep.
“We will work tirelessly with BPP to deliver a retreat that meets the expectations of the body of permanent secretaries and the Nigerian people,” he said.
NAN
