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NITDA pushes for standardised IT governance under Renewed Hope Agenda
In a decisive move to enhance transparency and accountability in the execution of public sector IT projects, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has engaged critical government agencies—Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Office of the Auditor General for the Federation, and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP)—to promote the adoption of its Reviewed IT Project Clearance Guidance Document.
RELATED: MDAs more responsive to IT procurement as NITDA deepens enforcement
The initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to transform Nigeria’s public service delivery through digitalisation and efficient resource management.
New IT Clearance Guideline Targets Transparency and Cost-Effectiveness
The revised document is an upgrade of the 2018 Guidelines for Clearance of IT Projects, and aims to standardise planning, funding, and implementation processes for Federal Public Institutions (FPIs). It emphasises interoperability, cost-effectiveness, regulatory compliance, and shared digital services, all of which are essential to building a connected, digitised government.
Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, underscored the importance of inter-agency collaboration, stating:
“We can’t work in silos. Government is one. To achieve our digital economy goals, we must design systems that are interoperable, intentional, and focused on value delivery.”
Collaborative Strategy with BPP, AGF, and Auditor-General’s Office Unveiled
The visits to the institutions were to secure buy-in and review inputs on the updated IT Clearance Guideline. NITDA proposes a three-tier approach to project implementation: Solution Design, Implementation, and Quality Assurance—with mandatory licensing and certification for contractors across all stages.
Abdullahi revealed that 56% of government IT projects fail due to poor planning, over-reliance on contractors’ proposals, and lack of defined value propositions.
“This guideline ensures MDAs take ownership of project designs, understand what they’re implementing, and demand accountability from vendors.”
BPP DG: Standardisation Key to Curbing Corruption in IT Procurement
At the Bureau of Public Procurement, Director General Dr. Adebowale Adedokun welcomed the guideline and noted its potential to reduce corruption.
“Too often, IT projects are used as a conduit to siphon funds due to their intangible nature. With a standardised framework, we can eliminate duplication and enforce accountability.”
He urged NITDA to support BPP in:
- Developing IT Price Intelligence benchmarks.
- Leading service-wide licensing procurement (e.g. Microsoft, Oracle).
- Training procurement officers in IT project evaluation.
Both parties agreed to set up a joint working committee and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enforce compliance and drive systemic reform.
Auditor-General’s Office and AGF Back IT Project Oversight
The Auditor-General of the Federation, Shaakaa Chira, commended NITDA’s foresight and pledged to conduct performance audits on cleared projects to assess their impact.
Similarly, the Accountant General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, expressed full support for the initiative, noting that integrating the clearance framework into financial workflows will enhance accountability and reduce waste in public spending.
Building for the Future: NITDA’s Vision for Digital Governance
With this initiative, NITDA aims to:
- Expand shared services and digital infrastructure
- Ensure interoperability across government IT platforms
- Eliminate redundant spending
- Drive Nigeria’s leadership in digital governance in Africa
Since 2018, NITDA’s IT Project Clearance process has saved the Nigerian government over N300 billion, showcasing the effectiveness of regulatory oversight.
