Software Procurement Decision-Making in Nigerian Public Sector Institutions: A Process Evaluation

Software procurement in Nigerian public sector institutions is characterised by opacity, political interference, and inadequate technical evaluation, contributing to widespread procurement of unsuitable or overpriced solutions. This study evaluates the software procurement decision-making process in Nigerian public sector institutions, with case references from state-level ministries in the North East (Borno) and North West (Katsina) zones. A qualitative process evaluation draws on document analysis of procurement records and interviews with 18 procurement officers, IT directors, and internal auditors. Analysis maps actual procurement workflows against the Public Procurement Act 2007 requirements and internationally accepted software evaluation frameworks including COCOMO and the Total Cost of Ownership model. Findings reveal systematic non-compliance with technical evaluation requirements, with vendor selection frequently bypassing competitive bidding and independent technical assessment stages. The study documents three anonymised case studies of failed software procurements resulting in cumulative losses exceeding 200 million naira. Professional recommendations include mandatory independent technical evaluation committees for ICT procurement above threshold values and adoption of a standardised Software Requirements Specification template for all government software tenders. This research supports the ongoing public procurement reform agenda in Nigeria by providing an evidence-based critique of current ICT procurement practice. Keywords: software procurement, public sector, procurement reform, Nigeria, technical evaluation