The Federal Government, in partnership with the World Bank‑assisted Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE‑GOV) programme, has mandated state governments to publish details of contract awards in the basic education and primary healthcare sectors every quarter.
The requirement aims to boost transparency in public spending and accountability in service delivery.
Nigeria continues efforts to strengthen governance and accountability in public procurement across sectors considered vital to human capital development.
The HOPE‑GOV programme, supported by the World Bank and implemented through the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, is designed to improve the efficiency of investments in education and health.
The initiative builds on earlier fiscal transparency reforms, including mandates for states to publish budget implementation reports and audited financial statements, which have been part of broader governance programmes supported by international partners.
Dr. Assad Hassan, National Coordinator of the HOPE‑GOV programme, announced the quarterly publication requirement during the first Implementation Support Meeting for 2026 with state focal persons held virtually in Abuja.
The meeting brought together about 100 officials from across Nigeria’s 36 states to prepare for First‑Year Verification by Independent Verification Agents (IVAs).
Under the mandate, states participating in the HOPE‑GOV programme must publish contract award information within 30 days after the end of each quarter on official state government websites. The directive aims to enable independent verification and qualify states for incentive disbursements tied to performance.
Dr. Hassan said the minimum information to be published should include the project name, awarding institution, award date, name of contractor and contract amount.
For ministries, departments and agencies without e‑procurement systems, IVAs will obtain schedules of all contracts above thresholds defined by state procurement laws and verify compliance with the Open Contracting Data Standard.
States with functional e‑procurement platforms must ensure online portals record and publish procurement data across the entire procurement cycle, the coordinator said.
Additionally, states must publish their 2026 Citizens’ Budget for basic education and primary healthcare by February 28, 2026, outlining revenue sources and expenditures.
The quarterly disclosure requirement is intended to strengthen transparency and public oversight of critical education and health expenditures. By making contract data publicly accessible, the policy seeks to reduce opportunities for mismanagement and strengthen confidence in the use of public funds.
Independent publication and verification may also enhance states’ ability to access performance‑based incentive funds under the HOPE‑GOV programme, potentially unlocking additional resources for service delivery.
The initiative aligns with global fiscal governance practices that promote open contracting and citizen engagement in monitoring public procurement.
The Federal Government and World Bank‑supported HOPE‑GOV programme have set a new requirement for states to publish quarterly contract award details in education and primary healthcare.
The move, aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability, includes specific publication timelines and information standards to support independent verification and enhance public oversight of critical investments.
