Department Overview
The Procurement Department is one of the Common Services Departments of the Federal Ministry of Education. It is responsible for the procurement planning and implementation of all projects and programmes, and for the disposal of assets of the Ministry.
The Department was established under the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Circular No. HCSF/PSO/155/I/3 of 31 March 2008, on the Establishment of the Procurement Cadre in the Federal Civil Service. It is headed by a Director, with Deputy Directors heading its two divisions and two Assistant Directors supporting them.
Our Vision
To achieve transparency, accountability, and efficiency in public sector procurement, thereby driving economic growth and development and supporting the achievement of the goals of the Education Sector.
Our Mission
To ensure transparent, fair and competitive procurement processes that deliver optimal value for money through efficient resource allocation. The Department is committed to promoting economic development and growth, fostering professionalism and efficiency in procurement practices, and ensuring strict adherence to public procurement rules and guidelines as mandated by the Bureau of Public Procurement and the Federal Ministry of Education.
Mandate
- To ensure that project conceptualisation and packaging match the defined priorities and targets set in the Ministry’s annual budget and procurement plans
- To ensure that all contracting processes are conducted in a transparent, open, competitive and efficient way, in strict compliance with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007 and extant guidelines on the award of contracts in the public service, conforming with the due process mechanism and ensuring value for money for government
- To prevent contract inflation by ensuring cost reasonableness, accuracy and comparability in competitive markets
Core Functions
Guided by the values of Integrity, Transparency, Accountability, Professionalism, Fairness and Innovation, the Department processes all procurement and disposal activities, including:
- Coordination of the procurement plan prepared by the Procurement Planning Committee, and its presentation to the Tenders Board for approval
- Preparation and uploading of the Ministry’s annual procurement plan to the Bureau of Public Procurement designated website
- Preparation and submission of the Ministry’s annual procurement records to the Bureau of Public Procurement
- Providing the Secretariat of the Ministerial Tenders Board and the Procurement Planning Committee
- Setting procurement timeframes for the implementation of procurement plans, in line with the Public Procurement Act 2007
- Preparation and submission to advertising media of documents soliciting quotations, prequalification, bidding and expressions of interest
- Receiving, arranging and opening prequalification documents, bids, quotations and requests for proposals
- Preparation of bidding documents and terms of reference in conjunction with user departments
- Coordination of technical and financial evaluation reports and their submission to the Ministerial Tenders Board for approval
- Processing all contracts above the approving thresholds of parastatals under the supervision of the Ministry, to the Ministerial Tenders Board and the Federal Executive Council
- Processing quotations for minor value procurements within the Permanent Secretary’s threshold
- Making arrangements for contract negotiations and contract agreement signing
- Preparing, documenting and submitting contract documents to the Bureau of Public Procurement for certification and issuance of a No Objection Certificate for contract award
- Conveying the award of contracts to successful bidders
- Preparing responses to complaints from aggrieved contractors and other stakeholders
- Preparation of all data and information required by the Bureau of Public Procurement and other relevant authorities
- Procurement monitoring, evaluation and due diligence compliance
- Liaising with the Stock Verifier and user departments to ensure that works, goods and services delivered conform with specifications and contract terms
- Processing unserviceable items and other government properties designated for disposal, in accordance with the Public Procurement Act 2007 and the Financial Regulations
- Obtaining and confirming the validity of bid securities, advance payment guarantees and bank performance guarantees from banks and financial institutions
- Collating and preparing needs assessments from the various departments of the Ministry and presenting them to the Procurement Planning Committee and the Bureau of Public Procurement
- Defending the procurement plan submitted to the Bureau of Public Procurement before implementation
- Organising procurement for works, goods and consultancy services as contained in the approved budget of the Ministry
- Processing and implementing constituency projects
- Supervising compliance with due process in the parastatals of the Ministry
- Carrying out procurement audits of procurement activities in the parastatals of the Ministry
Leadership
DIRECTOR
Otalike P. Yahaya
Otalike P. yahaya is the Director, Public Procurement Department, Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja. He is an accomplished public servant and a Procurement professional with extensive experience in , public sector Procurement.
He received his primary Education at LGEA Primary School, Igah Ocheba in Olamaboro local Government Area of Kogi State, and his secondary education at Sultan Atiku, Government Day Secondary School, Sokoto, Sokoto State. He thereafter proceeded to the University of Jos, plateau State, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Sciences (Botany) in 1990, He went UDU,Sokoto where he obtained Master in Business Administration (MBA) ,1998, he was at Yakubu Gowon University to obtain a masters degree in Science Education (M.SC Ed 2021)
In 2025 he obtained Certificate in Procurement Management from FUT Owerri, 2025 and Advance Certificate in Procurement Management from University of Benin ,2026.
He is at the moment, a fellow of Nigerian Procurement Certification Programme (fpcp) 2025 by BPP.
he began his professional career after His National Youth Service at The Just Foods, Nigerian Ltd, no 12,Ladipo Kuku Street, Ikeja Lagos. He also used the time of Youth Service to establish SHIMER Nursary and Primary School, before Pipe line B/S Isheri,Lagos, 1990/1991. Thereafter he returned to Sokoto to take up appointment with Science and Technical Education Board Sokoto (GSSS Yabo) 1992/1996. He later joined the Federal Civil Service as a Biology Tutor with Federal Science College, Sokoto 1996 /2003 .
His career progressed through strategic deployment to FSTC Orozo, Abuja, 2003 /2010 where he served as Internal and External Examination Officer and was a member of the WAEC/SSCE/GCE and NECO Exerminer and Team Leader.
He converted to Public Procurement Cader as a Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) with NAPEP 2010 to 2014, he was thereafter deployed to Federal Ministry ofFinance (FMF) where he served as Chief Procurement Officer CPO/ADP 2015/2016 He was later deployed to Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources (FMPR) as ADPP in 2016. He was again deployed to FMPWH, FMWH, FMHUD 2016 to 2023 where he served as ADPP/DDPP. Between December 2023 and March, 2026 he was at Ministry of Defence as the DPP 2024/2026
before his deployment to the Federal Ministry of Education as Director, PP till date.
Organizational Structure
Divisions: Capital Procurement Division
Branches:
- Monitoring and Compliance
- Data Base Management
- Technical Audit
- Ministerial Tender Board
- Tenders & Certification
- Price Intelligence
- Market Survey.
Key Functions:
- Handling capital projects and expenditures.
- Planning, processing, and managing the procurement of capital projects, including infrastructure, equipment, and major educational interventions.
- Ensuring compliance with the Public Procurement Act and approved procurement procedures.
Divisions: Recurrent Procurement Division
Branches:
- Price Intelligence
- Market Survey.
Key Functions:
Responsible for the procurement of goods and services required for the Ministry’s day-to-day operations, including office supplies, consultancy services, maintenance, and other recurrent expenditures, ensuring value for money and regulatory compliance.
Key Services
- Procurement planning
- Procurement process implementation
- Needs assessment across departments
- Secretariat of the Ministry’s Procurement Planning Committee
- Procurement audit in the parastatals of the Ministry
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Keeping of procurement records and uploading to the NOCOPO portal
Key Programmes/Projects
Programmes:
- Annual Procurement Planning Programme. All procurement activities are planned and aligned with the approved budget.
- Procurement Compliance and Due Process Programme. Adherence to strict compliance with the Public Procurement Act 2007 and applicable regulations.
- Capacity Building and Professional Development Programme. Enhancing the knowledge and competencies of procurement officers.
- Procurement Digital Transformation Programme. Improving efficiency through technology, electronic procurement systems, digital document management, procurement databases, and electronic bid submission.
- Supplier Development and Market Engagement Programme. Conducting market surveys, supplier engagement forums, vendor registration and database management, and supplier performance reviews.
- Contract Management Improvement Programme. Contract monitoring, site inspections, performance evaluation, and contract close-out.
- Procurement Monitoring and Evaluation Programme. Project monitoring, annual procurement reports, procurement data analysis, management reviews, and procurement department reviews.
Projects:
- Institutional Strengthening Projects
- Adoption of a Procurement Procedure Manual
- Adoption of Standard Bidding Documents reviewed by the Bureau of Public Procurement
- Development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Procurement Record Digitisation Project
- Implementation of E-Procurement System
- Capacity Development Projects
- Procurement Certification Programme
- Contract Management Projects
- Procurement Spend Analysis
- Defect Liability Monitoring
- Contract Close-Out
Achievements
The Procurement Department has consistently delivered transparent, efficient, and accountable procurement services by ensuring strict compliance with the Public Procurement Act 2007 and other extant Government regulations and guidelines. Through effective procurement planning, competitive tendering, strengthened contract management, and robust stakeholder engagement, the Department has facilitated the successful implementation of priority education projects, enhanced value for money, improved service delivery, and reinforced public confidence in the Ministry’s procurement system.
Director's Additional Profile Information:
- Professional Memberships: Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria, Counselling Association of Nigeria
- Honors: Ambassador for Peace, Universal Peace Federation; Lolo Ifeadikanwanne of Nanka Town
- Core Competencies: Policy formulation, strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement, quality assurance
Images & Media
Contact Information
Main Office: Procurement Department, Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Secretariat, Shehu Shagari Way, Abuja, Nigeria. P.M.B 146, Garki
- Email: procurement@education.gov.ng