International Law and Public Procurement: Compliance with WTO GPA Standards for Nigerian Government Contracts

This study examines the compliance requirements arising from the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) and related international public procurement standards as applicable to Nigerian government contracting, with focus on federal government procurement processes in Abuja and the management implications for public sector officials. Nigeria is not currently a party to the WTO GPA, but its procurement practices are increasingly evaluated against international standards by multilateral development banks, donor agencies, and international investors. Using a professional public management methodology, the research analyses the GPA's core requirements on transparency, non-discrimination, and tendering procedures, and compares them with the Public Procurement Act of 2007 and the Bureau of Public Procurement's regulations. It identifies the gaps between Nigerian public procurement practice and international standards, including weaknesses in procurement planning, limited competition in high-value contracts, and inadequate procurement review mechanisms. The paper draws on the findings of public expenditure and financial accountability (PEFA) assessments, World Bank procurement reviews, and civil society transparency reports to document these gaps. Findings indicate that Nigerian public procurement frequently falls short of international standards in areas including sole-source contracting justification, evaluation committee integrity, and timely payment to contractors. Recommendations include the revision of the Public Procurement Act to align with GPA principles, mandatory procurement training for federal officers, and consideration of GPA observer status as a pathway to full accession. Keywords: public procurement, WTO GPA, Public Procurement Act, Bureau of Public Procurement, Nigeria.