Private Printers Fault FG’s Directive On Exclusive Use Of Govt Press 

Private printing firms under the aegis of the Gutenberg Print Professionals Association of Nigeria have kicked against a new Federal Government directive barring Ministries, Departments, and Agencies from outsourcing printing jobs to private companies.

The group, in a statement yesterday, faulted the directive, stating that the blanket restriction on private printers is unfair, economically harmful and counterproductive to Nigeria’s development goals.

A leaked memo signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, said the Federal Government directive followed incidents of confidential government documents being exposed.

The directive makes it compulsory for all MDAs to use the Federal Government printing press, domiciled in the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, for their printing needs.

Reacting to the circular, the association acknowledged the Federal Government’s concern over safeguarding the confidentiality of sensitive documents but insisted that the blanket restriction was “unfair, economically harmful, and counterproductive to Nigeria’s development goals.”

The statement jointly signed by GUPPAN President, Adekunle Adebambo, and the National Secretary, Raymond Nwagwu, warned that the policy would cripple the multi-trillion-naira printing industry, throw thousands of workers into the labour market, and render years of private sector investments redundant.

The statement read, “The attention of the Gutenberg Print Professionals Association of Nigeria (GUPPAN) has been drawn to a leaked Federal Government circular, dated 20th August 2025 as published in Punch Newspapers and signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.

“The circular directs all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to cease patronage of private printing firms and to rely exclusively on the Federal Government printing press.

“While we acknowledge and appreciate the Federal Government’s genuine concern over safeguarding the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive documents, we must emphasise that this blanket restriction on private printers is unfair, economically harmful, and counterproductive to Nigeria’s development goals.

“For decades, members of GUPPAN and other players in the organised printing sector have invested trillions of naira in modern printing infrastructure, cutting-edge equipment, staff training, and capacity building in alignment with the government’s policies on public-private partnerships, industrial growth, and job creation. These investments were made in good faith.”

GUPPAN further cautioned that the directive, if enforced, would result in the loss of thousands of jobs, render private sector investments worth trillions redundant, deter future investors from committing resources to Nigeria’s printing and allied industries, place unsustainable pressure on the Federal Government printing press, which, despite its mandate, currently lacks the nationwide capacity to meet the diverse and extensive printing needs of all MDAs.

The association recalled that private firms had for years handled major assignments with efficiency, citing the Independent National Electoral Commission as one of the many agencies that had relied heavily on private printers for the production of sensitive materials.

“The private printing sector has consistently bridged the gap by delivering efficiency, timeliness, confidentiality, and professional excellence in the production of government documents,” GUPPAN stressed.

Instead of shutting out private operators, the association urged the Federal Government to adopt a balanced approach that, “allows non-classified jobs to be outsourced to vetted and certified private printers; create a licensing and security clearance system for firms handling government contracts; engage stakeholders in dialogue to craft inclusive policies; and introduce a transparent procurement process where jobs are routed through the government printer but distributed fairly among registered firms.”

GUPPAN argued that such a framework would protect national security without stifling private enterprise.

“This framework will safeguard confidentiality while ensuring fair distribution of contracts, encouraging healthy competition, and driving industry-wide growth.

“Smaller firms will be empowered to scale up, larger firms will be challenged to maintain global standards, and overall industry professionalism will be strengthened,” the statement added.

The group also reminded the government of the strategic role of the printing industry in the economy.

“The printing industry supports education, information dissemination, cultural preservation, and employment generation,” the group added.