BudgIT launches manual to track capital projects execution

BudgIT, a civic tech non-profit organisation has launched an efficiency report manual designed to improve transparency and accountability in capital project implementation across Nigeria.

Unveiled at an event in Abuja, the ‘Capital Projects Monitoring Manual’ compiles key regulations and best practices to aid stakeholders — including government agencies, civil society groups, the media, and citizens — in tracking capital projects more effectively.

Speaking at the launch on Thursday, Gabriel Okeowo, chief executive officer of BudgIT, said the manual includes checklists and templates to guide stakeholders through various stages of project execution, from initiation and procurement to monitoring and evaluation.

“It also documents relevant laws — including sections of the fiscal responsibility Act, public procurement Act, and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission Act — to provide a legal framework for accountability.

“Additionally, the manual incorporates global best practices — including the UK Treasury’s Brief Book, Australia’s Gateway Review Process, and Chile’s Project Evaluation Framework — offering insights Nigeria can adopt to improve project execution.”

Okeowo said as part of efforts to promote accessibility, the report will be made publicly available online, with sections shared in smaller formats for ease of use by different stakeholders.

He said the move would go a long way to improve public project oversight, reduce corruption, and ensure efficient use of national resources.

Vahyala Kwaga, group head at BudgIT on research and policy advisory, said the organisation will ensure follow-ups through its online platform tracker.

“So this document consolidates a previously scattered process that was not cohesive and was not aligned.

“This is like the guide to how you can approach reporting on capital projects in real-time. We pick up this information and we follow through on our social media handles and direct engagement with the states, with the government.

“Secondly, we also have a platform that we are building as part of this Strengthening Institutional Partnerships for Anti-Corruption and service delivery project, (SIPAC), that is going to use state platforms that can allow citizens to report, get acknowledgement and feedback, also ensure they get responses from the government on the status of those particular projects.

“So we’re tracking through our online platforms, we’re tracking through the state-specific platforms that we will build, and we also track through our direct communication to government agencies.”

‘CITIZENS MUST BE ENGAGED IN MONITORING’ 

Speaking on behalf of the civil society, Folahan Johnson, co-founder of the Centre for Inclusive Social Development, emphasised the need for citizens’ engagement in project monitoring.

He said public participation is a cost-effective way to ensure projects are completed as planned, reducing waste and inefficiency.

“If we invest 10% of what it would cost the government to effectively monitor all capital projects in the country, and put it in engaging citizens. It is a very cheap way of tracking capital projects because of that sense of ownership,” Johnson said.

Similarly, Adebowale Adedokun, director-general of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), highlighted the persistent issue of abandoned and “ghost” projects.

He also said increased monitoring through civic engagement and institutional partnerships would help tackle the problem.