Tender compliance
Which compliance certificate do I need?
Nigerian tenders ask for a stack of certificates, and a missing one disqualifies the whole bid. Here is who needs which — and how to file them together.
The statutory trio
Start here: do you employ staff?
If you have employees, you almost certainly need all three of these. Each proves you remit a different statutory contribution.
- Proves
- You remit your staff pensions to licensed PFAs.
- You need it if
- You have employees and bid for almost any public or large private tender.
- On the checklist
- First certificate most procurers check. Required on nearly every ITB checklist.
- Proves
- You pay into the Employee Compensation Scheme.
- You need it if
- You have employees — the scheme is mandatory for registered employers.
- On the checklist
- Asked for alongside PenCom on the same tender checklists.
- Proves
- You contribute to the Industrial Training Fund.
- You need it if
- You have 5+ employees or ₦50m+ turnover (the ITF contribution threshold).
- On the checklist
- Completes the statutory trio every Nigerian tender expects.
Almost always required too
Two more the trio does not cover.
The statutory trio rarely stands alone. These two appear on nearly every bid package.
Your company is current on federal taxes (the Tax Clearance Certificate).
Almost every tender, plus bank facilities, visas and major contracts.
From ₦19,350Your company is active on the CAC register (annual return filed).
Most bid packages confirm the company is not dormant or struck off.
From ₦519Questions
Work out exactly what your bid needs.
Which compliance certificates do I need for a Nigerian tender?
If you have employees, you almost always need the statutory trio — PenCom, NSITF and ITF — plus a current FIRS Tax Clearance Certificate and an up-to-date CAC annual return. Missing any one of the trio typically disqualifies the bid, so most contractors file all of them together.
Do I need all three of PenCom, NSITF and ITF?
PenCom and NSITF apply to any registered employer with staff. ITF applies once you have 5 or more employees or ₦50m+ annual turnover. If you meet the ITF threshold, tender checklists expect all three; if you are below it, you may still be asked for an ITF exemption letter, which we can advise on.
What if I have no employees?
A company with no staff has limited PenCom/NSITF/ITF obligations, but tenders are usually aimed at employers. You will still typically need a FIRS TCC and a current CAC annual return. Tell us your situation on the filing and we flag what actually applies.
Can I file all of them at once?
Yes. Docufy runs the trio (and the FIRS TCC and CAC annual return) in parallel — you upload the shared evidence once and we route it to each agency. This is the fastest way to assemble a complete tender package.
How long before my tender deadline should I start?
Allow at least two weeks. Certificates are issued for a calendar year and the agencies need time to verify remittances — especially if you have outstanding contributions to clear first.
Related compliance searches
File your whole tender stack in one place.
PenCom, NSITF, ITF, FIRS TCC and CAC annual return — filed in parallel, verified PDFs in your encrypted vault, ready to attach to any bid.