The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Chain Management of Nigeria has called on its new members and fellows to uphold the highest ethical standards in the practice of procurement and supply chain management.

The call was made by the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the institute, Prof. Mohammed Aliyu, during the 2025 Group A induction ceremony held at the Lagos Airport Hotel.

At the event, the institute conferred academic fellowships on five individuals and inducted 206 professionals into its graduate membership.

Aliyu urged the new inductees to resist unethical practices prevalent in Nigeria’s procurement environment, warning them not to join the “bandwagon” that contributes to professional decline.

“You must uphold the dignity of this profession at all times,” he said. “Stand firm in defence of what is right, and do not allow those struggling mid-career to drag you down.”

He also stressed the need for the federal government to inaugurate the long-awaited Procurement Council, noting that its absence has allowed the Bureau of Public Procurement to frequently violate the Public Procurement Act, of 2007.

“The consistent breach of the Act by the BPP is a direct result of the failure to inaugurate the Council,” he said.

Prof. Aliyu encouraged the inductees to remain committed to the institute, contribute intellectually and professionally, and not see the chartered status granted via Act No. 21 of 2007 as an end in itself.

“You must not abandon the institute. Let this be a fresh dedication to the service of our country and humanity. Do not allow yourselves to be manipulated to your downfall,” he said.

He expressed concern over the persistent disregard for procurement regulations by government actors, which he said has led to massive resource mismanagement and corruption.

“The poor implementation of procurement rules has allowed contractors to abscond with mobilisation fees, undermining the Public Procurement Act,” he said.

To address these issues, he urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to recognise procurement and supply chain management as vital tools for delivering democratic dividends, ensuring proper budget implementation, and promoting good governance.

He called on the government to publicly acknowledge and uphold the principles, ethics, and professionalism of the procurement and supply chain management field; fully enforce both the Public Procurement Act and the CIPSMN Act; and support and protect the procurement profession at all levels of governance.

Also speaking at the event, CIPSMN President, Sikiru Balogun, urged the new members to be ethical leaders, innovative professionals, and positive influencers.

“Be leaders who inspire, innovators who challenge the status quo, and professionals who uphold the highest ethical standards,” he said.

Balogun also encouraged the inductees to join their state chapters, pay their annual subscriptions, and contribute actively to the growth of the institute.

The five newly conferred fellows were Mr Isa Tukura, Atte Ola, Victoria Akoh-Ali, Amodu Raolat, and Dr Madu Chinwe.