The Federal Government has launched a digital platform aimed at eliminating procurement delays and improving transparency across Nigeria’s education sector.
The initiative, known as the Procurement Compliance Monitoring System (PICOMS), was unveiled by the Minister of Education, Maruf Olatunji Alausa, during a capacity-building session for procurement officers at the auditorium of the National Universities Commission in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Alausa reveled, delays in procurement processes have slowed the implementation of key education projects across the country.
“Procurement delays have significantly slowed the implementation of critical education projects, often due to incomplete documentation, weak submissions, and procedural lapses,” the minister said.
He explained that strengthening procurement compliance is vital to ensuring that projects are delivered efficiently and that public resources are properly managed.
“To address these challenges, the Ministry has deployed the Procurement Compliance Monitoring System to manage procurement processes electronically, track submissions in real time, and significantly reduce approval timelines,” he added.
The minister noted that the platform will be used across the Federal Ministry of Education, including its agencies, commissions, parastatals, and tertiary institutions to improve efficiency and accountability.
Also speaking at the session, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Adebowale Adebukola Adedokun, highlighted persistent challenges affecting procurement processes.
“Incomplete documentation and weak procurement submissions remain recurring issues that delay approvals and slow down project execution,” Adedokun said.
He stressed the need for procurement officers to strengthen documentation and adhere strictly to regulatory guidelines to ensure smoother processes.
The Ministry of Education reiterated its commitment to transparency, accountability, and efficient delivery of projects across Nigeria’s education sector through the deployment of the digital monitoring system.