Niger Cour des Comptes: Boosts Public Procurement Control Capacity

• A 10-day training workshop for Niger's Cour des Comptes advisors and auditors on public procurement began on August 11, 2026, in Dosso.
• The training aims to enhance the capacities of state control bodies and promote transparency in public contracts.
• Officials, including Oumarou Magagi Tanko, stressed the importance of preventing vulnerabilities like favoritism and overbilling, advocating for a proactive, integrity-focused approach.
• ARCOP Director General Maïga Mahamadou Ali highlighted the training as part of a national drive to improve public procurement regulation and combat corruption.
• The initiative reflects the Nigerien government's commitment to probity and integrity in managing public funds, which are crucial for national development projects.

Lawyers advising clients on public procurement in Niger must prepare for intensified scrutiny and enforcement by the Cour des Comptes, necessitating a review of internal compliance frameworks and due diligence processes for public contracts to mitigate risks of irregularities and fraud.

A significant 10-day training workshop on public procurement commenced on August 11, 2026, in the historic city of Dosso, Niger. The program is specifically designed for advisors and auditors of the Cour des Comptes, aiming to bolster the capacities of these crucial state control bodies. This initiative underscores the commitment of both national and regional institutions to fostering transparency and robust governance within Niger's public sector.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Mr. Oumarou Magagi Tanko, President of the First Chamber of the Cour des Comptes. Other key figures in attendance included Mr. Maïga Mahamadou Ali, Director General of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ARCOP), the President of the National Public Procurement Regulatory Council (CNRCP), and Mr. Mossi Mahamadou, Secretary General of the Dosso region. Their collective presence highlighted the strategic importance placed on enhancing the oversight of Niger government contracts compliance.

During his opening address, Mr. Oumarou Magagi Tanko emphasized the dual role of public procurement as both a vital instrument for public action and a powerful engine for economic development. He meticulously outlined the various stages of the public procurement cycle, from initial needs identification to the final reception of services, while drawing attention to common vulnerabilities. These include issues such as fractionalization of orders, favoritism, collusion, overbilling, and inadequate contract monitoring, all of which, he warned, can severely compromise infrastructure quality and erode public trust.

Mr. Tanko stressed the imperative of cultivating a strong culture of compliance and integrity, where prevention takes precedence. He articulated that the role of a controller extends beyond merely identifying irregularities after they occur; it critically involves analyzing their root causes and proposing effective solutions to enhance the management of public funds. This proactive approach is central to strengthening Niger Cour des Comptes public procurement control and marks a strategic shift towards a more preventative audit methodology, a core component of the Cour des Comptes Niger audit training.

Mr. Maïga Mahamadou Ali, ARCOP's Director General, contextualized the training as part of a broader national dynamic spearheaded by his institution. He noted that ARCOP consistently organizes workshops for various public procurement stakeholders and control bodies to enhance their competencies and refine existing regulations. Mr. Ali expressed gratitude to the local authorities and the Cour des Comptes for their dedication, further highlighting the vision of state authorities, including General Abdourahamane Tiani, President of the Republic, and Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, who have prioritized probity and integrity.

Mr. Ali underscored the strategic significance of public procurement in national governance and urged participants to engage actively, contributing questions and remarks to enrich the discussions and improve Niger marchés publics réglementation. Echoing this sentiment, Mr. Mossi Mahamadou, Secretary General of the Dosso region, framed the training within the ongoing state refoundation efforts led by General Tiani and Prime Minister Zeine. He affirmed that the fight against corruption, the embezzlement of public funds, and impunity forms the bedrock of the current government's agenda. Given that public procurement mobilizes a substantial portion of the national budget, its management must be exemplary, serving as an “armed wing of development” for essential infrastructure like schools, health centers, and roads, thereby reinforcing the national commitment to Niger anti-corruption public procurement and robust ARCOP Niger public contracts.

The comprehensive training signals a clear intent from Nigerien authorities to intensify scrutiny and enforcement within the public procurement sector, demanding that legal advisors and companies operating in the region bolster their compliance frameworks. This heightened focus on preventing irregularities and promoting integrity means that entities engaging in public contracts must anticipate more rigorous audits and a proactive approach from control bodies like the Cour des Comptes.

Lawyers advising clients on public procurement in Niger must prepare for intensified scrutiny and enforcement by the Cour des Comptes, necessitating a review of internal compliance frameworks and due diligence processes for public contracts to mitigate risks of irregularities and fraud. The emphasis on analyzing the causes of irregularities, rather than just identifying them, suggests that future audits will delve deeper into operational processes and internal controls, making robust compliance and transparent practices more critical than ever for all parties involved in Niger's government contracts.

Lawyers advising clients on public procurement in Niger must prepare for intensified scrutiny and enforcement by the Cour des Comptes following this training. Companies should review their internal compliance frameworks and due diligence processes for public contracts to mitigate risks of irregularities and fraud.

Source: Original reporting via Abdoul Moumouni Mahamane