It is a well-known fact that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are critical to a country's economic success. Participation of SMEs in all spheres of economic activity, including public procurement, is one of the ways the sector may promote the country's economic development. However, SMEs are sometimes hesitant to sell to the government. The factors responsible for the poor participation of SMEs in public procurement in Enugu State, Nigeria, were discovered and grouped into eight themes in this study. Questionnaires were used to collect data from 193 CEOs of SMEs. The generated data was examined using the ranking approach. According to the findings of the study, perceived lack of transparency in public procurement proceedings, uneven qualifying criteria, and the burdensome nature of public procurement are the main reasons SMEs are hesitant to participate in public procurement in Enugu, Nigeria. It was determined that transparency is essential in public procurement in order for SMEs to fully engage in the process. According to the report, in order to increase SMEs' participation in public procurement, transparent procurement administration must be ensured.