Government Procurement Act 2026 (Act 882)

The Government Procurement Act 2026 (Act 882) establishes a legal framework designed to ensure accountability, governance, and transparency in the procurement of goods, services, and works by federal and state government entities. The Act is administered by the Secretary General to the Treasury, while ‘controlling officers’ are responsible for the direct supervision and accountability of procurement within their specific purviews. A mandatory registration system requires all suppliers and contractors to be registered with the Registrar of Government Procurement before participating in any procurement process. While the open and competitive procurement method is mandated as the primary approach, the Act provides for tiered approval authorities - including Procurement Boards and relevant Ministers or state leaders - based on specific financial thresholds. To maintain integrity, the Act requires the disclosure of interests by both administrators and participants (including beneficial ownership) and strictly prohibits any form of intervention or intimidation in active procurement processes. Compliance is strictly monitored by the Treasury and state financial authorities, who are granted powers of investigation, search, and seizure to address non-compliance or fraudulent activities. The Act also establishes a framework for administrative actions and prosecutions, detailing offences related to false information, the liabilities of corporate directors and employers, the authority to impose administrative penalties, and the formal procedures for prosecuting or compounding offences. Finally, the Act introduces a formal dispute resolution mechanism through the establishment of review panels and an independent Government Procurement Appeal Tribunal to adjudicate grievances related to procurement decisions.

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