As part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at improving governance and public service delivery, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is reinforcing its role as the central authority for vetting government IT projects. In line with this, NITDA recently engaged key government bodies—the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, the Office of the Auditor General, and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP)—to present its newly updated IT Project Clearance Guidance Document.
The updated framework, a revision of the 2018 guidelines, is designed to bring uniformity, accountability, and value to the planning, funding, and execution of IT projects across government institutions. It emphasizes cost-effectiveness, transparency, and regulatory compliance—core principles to achieving Nigeria’s national digital economy goals.
NITDA’s Director General stressed the importance of partnerships in executing the Renewed Hope Agenda. He noted that too many IT projects fail due to lack of proper planning, an overreliance on technology trends, and contractors handling every stage of a project—from design to execution—without sufficient oversight or consideration for business value.
To address this, the revised guidelines outline a three-step process: Solution Design, Implementation, and Quality Assurance. Going forward, contractors must have certified staff for each phase before they can be awarded government IT projects. This requirement is meant to improve accountability and reduce corruption and duplication.
The DG emphasized the need for interoperability in IT systems across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), encouraging shared services and collaborative design instead of working in silos. He explained that successful digital transformation is not just about technology, but also about people and processes.
At the BPP, Director General Dr. Adebowale Adedokun supported the move and highlighted the misuse of IT projects to divert public funds. He emphasized the need for standardized bidding processes and praised the introduction of the guideline as a key step toward cleaning up procurement practices. He also called on NITDA to help develop IT price benchmarks and templates for license procurement to aid transparency.
Additionally, Dr. Adedokun advocated for better training for government IT staff to help them avoid being outmaneuvered by contractors. Both agencies agreed to form a joint working committee and sign an MoU to implement the recommendations.
At the Office of the Auditor General, Auditor General Shaakaa Chira commended NITDA’s initiative and pledged to conduct performance audits to evaluate the guideline’s impact once operational.
The Accountant General, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, also praised NITDA and expressed readiness to integrate the guideline into government financial processes to improve service delivery.
Since introducing the original guidelines in 2018, NITDA has helped Nigeria save over N300 billion by preventing poorly executed or unnecessary IT projects. With the updated framework and stronger inter-agency collaboration, NITDA aims to further enhance digital governance, reduce waste, and position Nigeria as a leader in efficient, technology-driven public service.
