Examining Ethical Issues in International Procurement Practices of Nigerian Public Sector Organisations

This research examines the ethical issues encountered in international procurement practices of Nigerian public sector organisations, focusing on the processes by which federal ministries, departments, and agencies acquire goods, services, and construction through international competitive bidding. International procurement in the Nigerian public sector has been associated with corruption, procurement fraud, overpricing, bid rigging, and deliberate non-compliance with due process requirements, resulting in significant losses to public resources. The study adopts a qualitative research design, collecting data through semi-structured interviews with 40 procurement officers, Bureau of Public Procurement staff, civil society monitors, and international supplier representatives. Thematic analysis and document review of procurement audit reports are applied. The theoretical framework draws on principal-agent theory, institutional corruption theory, and the public procurement ethics literature. The study investigates specific ethical challenges including conflict of interest in vendor selection, falsification of procurement documents, splitting of contracts to avoid approval thresholds, and non-transparent post-award contract modifications. It also evaluates the effectiveness of whistleblowing mechanisms and the Bureau of Public Procurement's oversight capacity. Findings are expected to reveal systemic weaknesses in procurement oversight that create persistent opportunities for ethical violations. Recommendations include mandatory electronic procurement platforms for all international competitive bids, strengthening of the Bureau of Public Procurement's enforcement powers, and professional ethics training for procurement officers modelled on international standards. Keywords: procurement ethics, public sector, international procurement, corruption, Nigeria