Kaduna Open Contracting: Stakeholders Push for Stronger Transparency in Infrastructure Procurement

By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna

 Stakeholders under the Open Government Partnership (OGP) have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening infrastructure transparency and accountability in Kaduna State. 

This resolution followed a strategic meeting of the Technical Working Group (TWG) on the Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) and the Open Contracting for Infrastructure Data Standard (OC4IDS), held on May 23, 2025.

The virtual meeting was organised to mark the 2025 OGP Week with representatives from the Kaduna State Public Procurement Authority (KADPPA), the Planning and Budget Commission (PBC), civil society organizations, and the media. It served as a platform for assessing progress, identifying bottlenecks, and outlining actionable strategies to ensure Kaduna State maximizes the benefits of open contracting in infrastructure delivery.

In a communique signed by Stephen Waya, Co-chair of the OCDS & OC4IDS Technical Working Group, the stakeholders resolved to intensify high-level advocacy to policy makers to ensure that all procuring Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in Kaduna State publish their procurement data on their official websites. This is in line with the principles of the OCDS and OC4IDS, and is essential for enhancing transparency, enabling informed decision-making, and promoting accountability in the use of public funds.

The TWG also pledged to collaborate with KADPPA to establish a Youth and Students Community of Practice on open contracting. This initiative is aimed at fostering early engagement and building a pipeline of young advocates and professionals equipped to champion infrastructure transparency. The group emphasized the need for government institutions to improve the timeliness and comprehensiveness of procurement data, noting that incomplete or outdated information significantly hinders effective analysis and public oversight.

Another key issue highlighted during the meeting was the need to urgently upgrade the state’s e-procurement portal to allow for seamless integration with other platforms such as Eyes and Ears, Microsoft Navision, and OC4IDS. Stakeholders expressed concern that despite ongoing efforts, the integration remains pending, posing a risk to the sustainability of transparency initiatives.

The communique called for a comprehensive review and dissemination of legislation, regulations, and policies guiding infrastructure procurement in the state to ensure alignment with transparency principles and ease of compliance by all MDAs.

Stakeholders also advocated for the immediate development of improved procurement systems for Local Government Areas (LGAs), as mandated by the Local Government Reform Law of 2018. This, they noted, would promote uniform standards and ensure that infrastructure projects at the grassroots level also benefit from transparent practices.

Participants emphasized the urgent need to reconstitute the Kaduna State Public Procurement Board, which plays a critical oversight role in enforcing procurement regulations and ensuring adherence to transparency standards. In addition, they recommended the development of a guidance note to assist procurement agencies in integrating the Construction Sector Transparency Initiative (CoST) into their procurement processes.

Another recurring concern was the delayed release of procurement audit reports. Stakeholders agreed that annual publication of these reports is vital for enhancing public trust, enabling citizens to identify and report irregularities, and ensuring that public funds are spent efficiently and effectively. They urged MDAs to foster stronger collaboration with civil society organizations (CSOs) and media, not as adversaries, but as partners working together toward a common goal.

Stakeholders resolved that engagement in the infrastructure lifecycle must begin at the planning phase, where citizens can influence priorities through the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), and continue through project execution to decommissioning. They emphasized that participation should not be limited to project monitoring alone but extend to decision-making stages that shape infrastructure investments.

Participants called on CSOs and media actors to build robust coalitions to amplify advocacy efforts, conduct investigative journalism, and hold duty bearers accountable for procurement practices. They agreed that the TWG must continue to convene regularly with relevant stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and sustain momentum on transparency reforms.

While acknowledging that KADPPA has made significant strides in improving awareness and capacity around infrastructure transparency, the communique also recognized that several challenges remain. Chief among them is the continued reluctance of many MDAs to provide comprehensive, accurate, and up-to-date data. This reluctance has contributed to inefficiencies and a decline in the quality of infrastructure across sectors.

Stakeholders also lamented the gap between data availability and data utilization, citing a lack of engagement from communities, CSOs, and media despite efforts to improve access. They stressed that real transparency cannot be achieved unless data is both usable and used to influence policy and monitor implementation.

The meeting further observed that, although inclusivity policies have been successfully adopted allowing greater participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and other key reforms remain pending. These include the formal adoption of a Disclosure Mandate and the integration of procurement reforms at the local government level.

There were concerns about the uneven distribution of digital infrastructure and skills across MDAs, with some lacking the capacity to implement transparency tools effectively. Participants emphasized the need for strong political will to enforce compliance and penalize non-cooperative agencies or individuals that resist transparency initiatives out of fear of scrutiny.

Despite these setbacks, progress has been made in the implementation of the CoST framework, which has enabled structured project information disclosure. Still, stakeholders agreed that Kaduna State must adopt a multi-faceted approach to overcome the current challenges. This includes strengthening legal frameworks, increasing public awareness and engagement, improving data collection and management, and cultivating a culture of transparency and accountability in public procurement.

They expressed appreciation for the efforts of KADPPA, PBC, development partners, and civil society in promoting the principles of open contracting. However, it called for renewed urgency and commitment to address outstanding issues and ensure that all residents of Kaduna State benefit from transparent, equitable, and efficient infrastructure development.