Digital Procurement Transparency, Contract Management Efficiency and Value-for-Money Outcomes in Polytechnics in South-West Nigeria

Abstract

Public procurement determines whether public funds deliver value or are lost to inefficiency and irregularity. This study examined digital procurement transparency, contract management efficiency and value-for-money outcomes in polytechnics in South-West Nigeria, and the relationships among them. A quantitative, survey-based correlational design was used, with a multistage sampling procedure yielding 240 procurement, finance and management staff across six polytechnics. A validated questionnaire measured the constructs, and data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, multiple regression and structural equation modelling. Digital procurement transparency was moderate (mean = 2.68 on a 5-point scale); e-invoicing (54.2%) and online vendor registration (48.6%) were the most adopted tools, and e-tendering (32.5%) and e-contract management (28.4%) the least. Contract management efficiency was moderate (mean = 2.84), with performance monitoring (2.52) and compliance tracking (2.64) lowest. Value-for-money outcomes were moderate (mean = 3.02). Transparency was positively associated with contract management efficiency (r = 0.54, p < 0.001) and value-for-money outcomes (r = 0.58, p < 0.001), and contract management efficiency with value-for-money outcomes (r = 0.62, p < 0.001). Contract management efficiency partially mediated the transparency effect (indirect effect = 0.22, p < 0.01). The findings support procurement digitalisation and stronger contract governance in Nigerian polytechnics.