The Federal Government has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to observe a mandatory 14-calendar-day standstill period before executing public procurement contracts.
The directive, issued with immediate effect, is aimed at strengthening transparency and fairness in the award of public contracts by giving unsuccessful bidders time to seek clarification or challenge procurement decisions.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, disclosed the directive in a circular addressed to ministers, permanent secretaries, heads of government agencies, accounting officers and other officials involved in federal procurement.
The circular requires all procuring entities to apply the standstill period to both ongoing and future procurement activities.
Under the new arrangement, a contract agreement cannot be executed until the 14-day period has expired.
Similarly, a Letter of Award will not become effective until the mandatory standstill period has elapsed, giving other participating bidders an opportunity to raise concerns about the procurement process.
Where a complaint is received within the standstill period, further action on the procurement process is expected to be suspended until the complaint is resolved.
The Federal Government said the measure is intended to provide an additional layer of accountability in public procurement and reduce the possibility of disputes arising after contracts have already been concluded.
The policy also gives unsuccessful bidders a formal window within which they can seek explanations or challenge decisions they believe were not reached in accordance with procurement rules.
Officials who fail to comply with the directive could face administrative sanctions, according to the government.
The introduction of the mandatory waiting period builds on procurement reforms already being implemented by the Bureau of Public Procurement to strengthen compliance among government institutions.
The BPP had previously announced a 14-working-day standstill mechanism for resolving contractual disputes and outlined measures requiring MDAs to publish contract awards and submit periodic performance reports.
The bureau has also been strengthening its enforcement powers, including measures aimed at sanctioning and potentially blacklisting contractors who violate procurement regulations.
The latest Federal Government directive therefore forms part of a wider effort to make public contracting more transparent and ensure that procurement decisions can be properly scrutinised before they become final.
Public procurement accounts for a significant share of government expenditure, making the integrity of contract-award processes important to the effective use of public resources.
Weak procurement controls can expose government projects to disputes, inflated costs, delays and allegations of favouritism, while stronger procedures can give both government institutions and contractors clearer rules to follow.
The standstill period is designed to address one part of that process by creating time between the announcement of an award and the formal execution of the contract.
The government is also seeking to ensure that procurement decisions are supported by the necessary financial approvals before agencies enter into binding obligations.
Earlier in 2026, the Federal Government directed MDAs not to award contracts or enter into financial commitments without the required budgetary approval and cash backing.
That earlier directive required agencies to obtain the necessary Warrant or Authority to Incur Expenditure before issuing letters of award, signing contracts or creating financial obligations.
Together, the measures indicate a broader attempt to tighten control over federal expenditure and ensure that government contracts are properly authorised before implementation begins.
For contractors and suppliers, the new 14-day requirement means that winning a procurement process will not immediately translate into the execution of a contract.
Instead, the parties involved will have to wait until the prescribed period expires, unless the procurement process is affected by a complaint that requires further review.
For government agencies, the requirement adds another procedural step that must be incorporated into procurement timelines and project planning.
The policy may therefore affect the speed at which some federal contracts move from award to implementation, although the government considers the additional review period necessary to improve the credibility of the procurement process.
The Federal Government's warning of sanctions also signals that compliance is expected to be treated as a mandatory requirement rather than an optional administrative practice.
As the policy takes effect, federal procuring entities will be expected to adjust their procedures to ensure that contract execution does not occur before the standstill period has been completed.
The government is ultimately seeking to create a procurement system in which bidders have a meaningful opportunity to challenge questionable decisions and public funds are committed through a more transparent and accountable process.