In a renewed push to strengthen transparency and accountability in public procurement, state governments across Nigeria have been directed to publish contract award information for basic education and primary health care procurements within 30 days after the end of each quarter under a World Bank–supported initiative.

The directive, issued by the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity Programme (HOPE‑GOV) of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, aims to enhance openness in subnational procurement processes and ensure public access to critical contracting data.

Mandate for Quarterly Publication

Dr. Assad Hassan, National Coordinator of the HOPE‑GOV Programme, announced the requirement during the programme’s first Implementation Support Meeting of 2026 with state focal persons, held virtually as part of preparations for the first‑year verification by Independent Verification Agents (IVAs).

Under the new requirement:

• States must publish quarterly contract award details for procurements in basic education and primary health care.

• The publication must occur within 30 days after the end of each quarter.

• The data should be posted on official state government websites to allow independent verification.

Details Required for Disclosure

To ensure effective oversight, the minimum information that must be published includes:

•Project name

• Awarding institution

• Award date

• Name of the contractor

• Contract amount

According to Hassan, where ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) are yet to adopt e‑procurement systems, Independent Verification Agents will obtain contract schedules and assess whether disclosures comply with the Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS). For MDAs with e‑procurement, the focus will be on whether state portals are fully operational and publishing procurement cycle data in line with the OCDS format.

Link to Incentive Funding

The transparency condition is tied to the disbursement of performance‑based incentive funds to states participating in the HOPE‑GOV Programme. States must complete the publishing requirement to qualify for these funds, reinforcing the link between accountability and resource allocation.

Additional Requirements and Institutional Strengthening

Beyond contract disclosures, the federal government has also mandated that states publish the citizens’ budgets for basic education and primary health care for the 2026 fiscal year by 28 February 2026. These documents are expected to outline revenue sources, including domestic and foreign grants, and provide a detailed breakdown of expenditure by sector and function.

The programme is also engaging states to strengthen internal systems that support implementation of the HOPE‑GOV reforms to achieve greater results in human capital development.

Background on the HOPE‑GOV Programme

The HOPE‑GOV Programme is a results‑based initiative supported by the World Bank that seeks to improve governance, boost service delivery, and deepen transparency at the subnational level — particularly within the health and education sectors. Its focus on performance‑linked financing and public disclosure is designed to address longstanding inefficiencies in public spending and promote better outcomes for citizens.