President Bola Tinubu is presiding over a meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja, with several ministers, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, absent.
The meeting began shortly after Tinubu arrived at the venue at 2:34 pm on Wednesday, accompanied by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Also absent were the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, among others.
The council is expected to consider a new National Policy on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as part of its agenda.
Charles Odii, Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), had hinted at the pending policy on Tuesday during the rollout of a free digital training platform designed to improve small businesses’ access to government contracts in Abuja.
Odii said the agency welcomed the initiative as a practical step towards making government procurement more accessible to entrepreneurs.
He said the platform would enable capable small businesses to compete for public contracts, expand the government’s supplier base and retain more value within the local economy.
“This is fully consistent with the national policy on MSMEs. We are reviewing the national policy on SMEs right now and we are just awaiting the FEC approval for the policy, from 2026 to 2030,” Odii said.
He added that the policy provided for improved participation of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in public procurement, recognising government contracts as a pathway to business growth, formalisation and local content development.
In a related development, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has unveiled the MSMEs Public Procurement Training Programme and Digital Learning Portal to address challenges preventing small businesses from participating effectively in government procurement opportunities.
Speaking at the unveiling in Abuja on Tuesday, Adebowale Adedokun, Director-General of the BPP, described the initiative as another milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen procurement capacity and expand opportunities for Nigerian businesses.
Adedokun said the portal was designed to bridge knowledge gaps, improve business readiness and equip MSMEs with practical skills to navigate government procurement processes.
“This includes identifying contract opportunities and preparing bids to contract delivery and performance management,” he said.
According to him, MSMEs account for approximately 96 per cent of businesses in Nigeria and contribute 50 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Despite their contribution to the economy, he said many small businesses face barriers to participating successfully in public procurement, including inadequate knowledge of procurement procedures, limited technical capacity and difficulties understanding bidding requirements.
Adedokun said the free digital platform would address these challenges through accessible learning resources tailored to Nigeria’s procurement environment.
He explained that the portal features interactive modules, quizzes, practical examples and a certificate of completion, with lessons covering the entire government procurement cycle.
The BPP director-general added that the platform could be accessed through computers, tablets and smartphones. It was also designed to accommodate users with limited internet bandwidth.
He stressed that sound procurement planning, legally enforceable contracts and effective contract management were essential to ensuring value for money, accountability and the successful delivery of government projects.
Adedokun said the initiative also prioritised women-owned and women-led businesses, youth entrepreneurs, persons with disabilities and veterans, who often face additional barriers to accessing public procurement opportunities.
He added that the bureau was reviewing existing barriers to MSME participation following the president’s approval for the establishment of community-based procurement and affirmative procurement initiatives.
According to him, the review aims to create a more inclusive and accessible procurement environment for small businesses across the country.
Adedokun expressed optimism that the training programme would reduce information gaps, improve business competitiveness and promote professionalism among MSMEs seeking government contracts.
However, he cautioned that completing the training would not guarantee the award of government contracts, noting that the procurement system remained guided by competition, transparency, accountability and value for money.
He urged small business owners, entrepreneurs, professional associations, trade groups and private-sector institutions to promote awareness of the portal and encourage participation in the free training programme.
The BPP chief also emphasised the need for collaboration among government institutions, the private sector, development partners and accountability agencies to strengthen public procurement.
He reiterated the bureau’s commitment to promoting value for money and delivering tangible benefits to Nigerians through an efficient, transparent and inclusive procurement system.
Adedokun also commended President Tinubu for supporting initiatives aimed at promoting institutional excellence, enterprise development and capacity building.