In 2011, the Federal Government appointed NDEBUMOG into a team of experts that was mandated to carry out a five-day Procurement Audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). This assignment was conveyed through a letter with ref no: BPP/S.11/CCMD/VOL.VII/433 dated 5^th July 2011 Ironically, there was a bottleneck! The assignment was frustrated, which led to immediate constitution of the Oronsaye’s Committee by the Federal Government to probe the agency. The Committee’s report, among others, recommended immediate dissolution of the (then) NDDC’s Board. The Oronsaye’s Committee recommendations was enforced by the Federal Government on the 13th of September 2011. NDEBUMOG’s expertise on procurement audit was further reechoed by the Federal Government through a letter dated 27^th July 2015 with ref: BPP/S.I/VOL.XLX/511 for another assignment. NDEBUMOG has been invited by agencies of the Federal Government to observe bidding processes for capital procurement(s) and related fiscal matters, among others. Some of these were conveyed through letters with these reference numbers: MNDA/PROC/26/VOL.1/10/33,NDBDA/PPC/VOL1/12/005,NDBDA/PPC/VOL1/13/005,NDBDA/PPC/VOL1/09/014,MNDA/PROC/26/VOL/1/10/1,MNDA/PROC/26/VOL/1/10/1,2519/S.1/EITI/VOL.1/1861/SDGs/OSSAP/PM&E/05/,PS/NPC/GC/06/IV/352,BPP/DG/2012/435,BPP/DG/2012/334,2519/S.1/MIS/VOL.1/31,BPP/DG/2015/183,BPP/DG/2014/730,SSAP/MDG/M&E/60/TIII,SH/COS/70/A/4575,SAP(S&R)/VOL.011/01,BPP/S.1/CCM/10/VOL.1/126,SH/COS/70/A4691,2519/S.1/MIS/VOL.1/10,BPP/RDD/13/VOL.1/185,BPP/DG/2013/1085,BPP/DG/2013/353,BPP/2013/926,BPP/DG/2014/370,BPP/DG/2014/111,BPP/DG/2012/005,BPP/DG/2012/1012,BPP/DG/2010/833,BPP/DG/2011/854,SSAP/MDGs/OP/1/II/T,2519/S.1/VOL.1/09,BPP/DG/2012/1216,BPP/DG/2013/638,SSAP/MDGs/CSO/20,SH/BMPIU/T.13,BPP/DG/2013/541,BPP/DG/2010/899,BPP/RDD/16/VOL.1/130,BPP/DG/2013/143,HMF/FMF/0/09/1, etc.

Niger Delta Budget Monitoring Group was elected to NEITI’s-Civil Society Steering Committee in 2010. Later in 2011, the organization was elected as Civil Society Liaison Organization of NEITI/Head of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative’s (NEITI) Civil Society Steering Committee. A position that subsisted till 2012. NDEBUMOG’s representative was part of Nigeria’s delegation to the Paris EITI Conference in 2011. It was an event that the 1st EITI’s Validation for Nigeria was announced. Within this period, precisely in 2010, NDEBUMOG was elected to lead a mega (national)- Coalition for Accountability and Transparency in Extractive Industries, Forestry and Fisheries in Nigeria (CATEIFFN). The coalition’s membership included, Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON), Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), et al. It was during NDEBUMOG’s headship of CATEIFFN that the end-to-end research on the character and nature of Nigeria’s extractive industry was unveiled at Yar’ Adua’s Centre, Abuja. The end-to-end (research publication) is (evidently) in the libraries of several Nigerian Universities. Upon completion of the first tenure of CATEIFFN’s leadership (2010/2011), NDEBUMOG was reelected (involuntarily) for a second tenure. NDEBUMOG’s management objected and resigned. It is on record that NDEBUMOG is a critical stakeholder in Nigeria’s EITI processes. A research into NEITI’s archives can validates this fact always!

NDEBUMOG is strategically placed with access to crucial fiscal materials, from budget to procurement plans, to procurement records, budget implementation reports and audit(s) outcomes. NDEBUMOG also have some information on actual releases to Ministries, Departments and Agencies that are necessary for fiscal governance interrogation. Due to analytical volumes and dulling encouragement from (some) actors, these data are not wholly analyzed but segmentally used at reducing pro bono burden on our volunteers and experts. However, the data remains useful for our work and for fiscal research from time to time. Fiscal data mining further helps in tracking of illicit financial flows, aligning fiscal architecture to emerging trends and development evolutions, alongside, leveraging fiscal intelligence with communal fiscal realities and tackling Nigeria’s resource disease. NDEBUMOG has empowered hundreds of communities across Nigeria with fiscal governance knowledge, basic economic literacy and shadow budgeting tools that influences advocacy for communal needs.

Sub nationally, NDEBUMOG has engaged over 627 (state) government agencies in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Rivers state. As at December 2020, over 1,080 Local Governments officials benefited from fiscal governance knowledge through the Niger Delta Budget Monitoring Group. Outside governmental beneficiaries, over 29, 433 participants benefitted from NDEBUMOG’s projects and programmes. Some of these were from Campaign Against Election Violence in Nigeria (CAEVIN), Deepening Expenditure Line Tracking for States and Local Governments in the Niger Delta (DELT4SLOG), Strengthening Transparency and Accountability in the Niger Delta (STAND), including, Financing for Development (F4D)- Strategic Partnership Program (SPP). NDEBUMOG provided technical implementation, collaborations, and partnerships for these programs. Indirectly, is estimated, over 3 million people were impacted. Kebetkache Women Development Centre entered a technical partnership with NDEBUMOG in 2016. The technical partnership with Kebetkache was facilitated by Oxfam and lasted for 3 years. Over 3,000 people, mostly women, benefitted from this technical partnership in areas of livelihoods, shadow budgeting, basic economic literacy, and fiscal inclusion.

On budget tracking activities, Akwa Ibom communities visited by NDEBUMOG’s budget trackers during “Deepening Expenditure Line-Tracking for States and Local Governments in the Niger Delta (DELT4SLOG II & III) are: Itung – Abak, Amanko – Eatern Obolo,Usung Inyang-Eket, Afaha Ikot Ebak – Essien Udim,, Obong Ntak –Etim Ekpo,Edem Ekpat – Etinan,Odoronikit – Esit Eket ,Opolom – Ibeno, Obioedim – Ibesikpo Asutan, Ikpa – Ibiono, Nto Etukudo – Ika, Edien Atai –Ikono,Ikot Esop – Ikot Abasi, Abiakpo Ikot Essien – Ikot Ekpene,Odoro Ukwok  – Ini, Ekim – Itu, Ebughu – Mbo, Ikot Obio Nkan – Nsit Ibom, Ikot Okobo – Nsit Ibom, Ikot Okobo – Nsit Ubium, Obot Akara, Nung Ikot Usute – Orukanam, Edikor Eyokpa –  Udung Uko, Utu Nsekhe – Ukanafun, Udung Ukporo – Urue Offong Oruko, Mbiabong, Etoi – Uyo, Ekeya – Okobo, Ibiaku Uruan – Uruan, Asong –  Eket, Ikot Eko Ibom – Onna, Ikot Ekpaw – Mkpat Enin, Ikot Nkpene – Odot, Awa – Onna, Anua – Uyo, Ituk Mbang – Uruan, Usaka Annag – Obot Akara, Ayadehe – Itu,Ikot Ekpe –Mbioto I – Etinan, Mmanyan – Afahaobong – Abak, Nung Obong Udim –Oma – Oku Iboku,Mbak Etoi – Uyo, Ukpom Abak – Abak, Ammamong – Okobo, Ediene Ikot Obio Imo – Uyo, Ekit Itam – Uyo, Urua Inyang – Ika, Efiat Mbo – Ika, Efiat Mbo – Mbo,Ikot Unya, Mkpat Enin,Mbak Atai – Itu,Ikpe Annang – Essien Udim,Nto Edino – Ikot Ekpene,Mbiaya – Uruan,Urua Akpan – Essien Udim,Ikpe Ikot Nkon – Ini,Ekparakwa – Oruk Anam,Issiet Ekim – Uruan,Ikot Akpanden,Obio Akpa,Mbiaobong – Uyo,Ikot Nteun – Uyo, Ikot Okoro – Oruk Anam, Nung Udoe – Ibesikpo Asutan,Ibiaku Issiet – Uruan,Adadia – Uruan, Edor Ekpene Obo – Eket,Ikot Oku Ikono – Uyo, Oron – Oron, Ibiaka – Mbo,Ikot Okorette – Eastern Obolo,Abak – Abak, Akpa Utong – Ini, Nwanib/Nsukara – Uruan,Utang – Uyo,Smith Close – Ikot Ekpene,Mbiakong – Uruan,Nsit Afai – Nsit Atai,Ifa Atai Eti – Uyo,Ikot Ekwere – Nsit Ubium,Oku Iboku – Itu,Bassey Isoh – Uyo,Obong Itam – Itu,Umuahia – Ariam – Ikot Ekpene,Itu – Mbong – Ndiya – Ibiaku,Nko Ididep – Ibiono Ibom,Ibiaku Itam – Itu, Idoro Eatern Itam – Itam,Ikot Udom – Ika,Mbak Atai – Ikot Ntu – Mkpeti – Okuiboku – Itu, Uyo – Afaha Nkan – Ibiaku,Ntokopo – Edem Urua – Ikono,Ibiakang Nsit – Ikot Ekpo – Unyehe – Nsit Atai, Nung Ukim and Ikono.

Places revisited are Abak, Eastern Obolo, Eket, Esit Eket, Essien Udim, Etim Ekpo, Etinan, Ibeno, Ibesikpo-Asutan, Ibiono Ibom, Ika, Ikono, Ikot Abasi, Ikot Ekpene, Ini, Itu, Mbo, Mkpat Enin, Nsit Atai, Nsit Ibom, Nsit Ubium, Obot Akara, Okobo, Onna, Oron, Oruk Anam, Ukanafun, Udung-Uko, Uruan, Urue-Offong/Oruko and Uyo. Others were: Ibaka, Ikot Okorette, Itiam, Etoi, Ekparakwa, Atabrikang, Ishiet Ekim, Ntafre, Ikot Ebok, Usuk Ukwot, Afaha Nsit, Ikot Osurua, Nung Ukim, Anua, Ituk Mbang, Asong, Ikot Eko Iban, Ikot Edibon, Ikot Ekpaw, Ikot Nkpene Odot, Awa, Ukpom Abak, Usaka, Annang, Ayadehe, Mbioto, Amanyam, Afaha Obong, Oma, Oku Iboku, Oyubio, Ikot Obio Inyang, Mbak Etoi, Ikot Otu, Essene, Ikpe Annang, Obio Imoh, Ukana Ikot Ntuen, Urua Inyang, Mbak Atai, Ikot Obio Ekpung, Effiat Mbo, Nto Ndino, Mbiaya Uruan, Urua Akpan, Ikpe Ikot Nkon, Atan Offot, Ikpa, Ikot Akata, Afaha Ekpene/Esit Eket, Ukpenekang, Ikot Edor, Ukpana Onna, Nung Udoe Itak, Ikot Ayan, Edene, Aka Ekpene, Ikon, Akpa Utong, Mbiabong, Udo Usoro, Ubi Inyang, Nwaniba, Nsukara Offot, Ekpe Udo Ikot, Ata, Ikot Udo Esang, Anwa Enen, Nungotu, Ibiaku, University of Uyo, Federal Technical College, Ikot Ntu, Mkpeti Oku, Iboku, Ikot Ibiok, Idim Afia, Utana, Ikot Uboh, among others.

Bayelsa state communities visited for budget tracking activities by NDEBUMOG’s team during “Deepening Expenditure Line-tracking for States and Local Governments in the Niger Delta (DELT4SLOG I) ” are Akassa, Oporoama, Okulogbolo, Sangana, Ewoama, Egweama, Twon, Nembe, Bassambiri, Agbere, Odoni, Angalabiri, Ayamassa, Trofani, Odi, Aduka, Sagbagreria, Okoloba, Aleibiri, Pereturogbene,  Lalangbene, Azuzuama, Korenkesie, Olugbobiri, Otuan, Ekowe, Okaka Estate, Amarata, Ovom, Agudama, Azikoro, Amassoama, Akenfa, Gbarian, Ekeki-Epie, Famgbe, Swali, Polaku, Bumoundi-Ekpetiama,Okordia, Zarama, Okolobiri, Obioku,Ewoi, Biseni and Mbiama, amongst others.

Bayelsa state communities visited by NDEBUMOG’s team for budget tracking activities during “Deepening Expenditure Line-tracking for States and Local Governments in the Niger Delta (DELT4SLOG II)” are Yenagoa; Nembe; Agge; Oporoma; Bassambiri & Ogbolomabiri; Amassoma; Ikibiri/Amassoma; Ayakoro; Aleibiri; Anyamassa-Aduku/Sagbama; Okoloba, Kolokuma/ Opokuma; Biseni; Sangana–Brass; Ikokiama / Southern Ijaw; Toru Orua/Sagbama; Yenaka-Ogbia; Aleibiri- Ekeremor; Adagabiri/Sagbama; Eniwari/Southern Ijaw; Edepie/Yenagoa. Others were Ogbia Town; Brass-Iwoama Okpoama; Elebele/Ogbia; Twon-Brass; Tebidaba/Sagbama; Agbere/Odani-Sagbama; Asoama/Okoloba; Kaiama; Okokoama; Sabagreia- Polaku; Bassambiri; Ogboloambiri; Opolo-Yenagoa; Otueke-Ogbia; Odi/ Trofani; Enewari, Ikebiri I, Ikebiri II, Okpotuwari, Ayama Ogbia, Otuokpoto Ogbia, Akabiri- Yenagoa; Olugbobiri-Sampou; Fando-Onopa, Ayama- Ogbia, Ondewari, Tombia, Ekowe – Igbumatoru and Famgbe – Atissa.

Bayelsa state communities visited by NDEBUMOG’s team for budget tracking activities during “Deepening Expenditure Line-tracking for States and Local Governments in the Niger Delta (DELT4SLOG III)” are Edepie,Biseni, Agudama, Agbura, Tombia, Igbogene ,Nedugo, Ovom, Gbarain/Ekpetiama, Epie/Atissa, Okordia/Zarama, Amassoama, Okpoama, Swali, Yenagoa, Tombia, Kaiama, Edepie, Ogbia, Igbogene, Onopa, Elebele, Nembe, Egweama, Agge, Liama, Tungbo, Amassoama, Azikoro, Aleibiri, Bulou-Orua, Amarata, Ologoghi, Amurekeni, Otueke, Salga/Ekelga, Kolokuma/Opukuma, Silga, Emakalakala-Akepeli, Pereamiri, Sabagreia, Ebedebiri, Aleibiri, Isampou, Tamogbene, Angalabiri, Obirirgbene, Agbere, Odoni, Azagbene, Modu-Zion, Monotic-Zion, Toru-Angalabiri, Bulou-Orua, Amabuluo, Tamiegbe, Torugbene, Toru-Orua, Tungbo, Ebedebiri, Agbere-Odoni, Trofani, Ologbobiri, Koluama l, Opukuma, Opukede/Foutorugbene, Erowha, Brass, Iwoama, Okpoama, Isampou,Basambiri, Ayama, Kpansia ll, Biseni, Agbura, among others.

Inexhaustibly, NDEBUMOG usually samples capital projects of Federal, States and Local Governments to measure performance. Some capital projects that NDEBUMOG has randomly sampled in Cross River state are: Construction and Provision of Borehole/Solar System at Primary Health Care Centre, Ward 5, Diamond, Calabar, Construction and Provision of Borehole/Solar System at Primary Health Care Centre, Ikom, Provision of Solar System at Health Care Centre, Maternity Junction, Akpabuyo, Construction and Provision of Borehole/Solar System at Bakassi Ward 4 & Ward 5, Construction of 3 Classrooms Block at Ikom Urban, Ward 3, etc. Importantly, there are several projects in Cross River state that we have drawn attention of stakeholders to. Some of such projects are: Calabar-Ikom-Ogoja-Katsina Ala Road (FMW) N5 billion (2014), Augmentation of Contract No. 5991 for Rehabilitation of 23Km Alesi to Iyamoyong in Obubra Local Government Area as Addendum to the Rehabilitation of Calabar-Ugep-Ogoja-Katsina Ala Road (Section II) Ugep-Ikom-Ogoja-Katsina Ala in Cross River and Benue State-awarded to Mssrs China Civil Engineering Company (CCECC) Nigeria Limited by FMWs on the 21^st of Nov, 2012, with 11 months completion timeline at the cost of N9.1 billion? Etc.

NDEBUMOG’s Budget Trackers visited over 100 locations in Delta State for DELT4SLOG I budget tracking activities. Some communities visited are Urhoka, Umutu, Obiaruku, Kokori, Amai, Ogume, Kwale, Erhijere, Oziegbe, Eku, Ossiomo, Atigwo, Akpobomu, Ibori, Ewonger, Okwemore, Okuode-Idedaka, Mosogar, Ugbakele, Ovade, Onorghore, Uhiapele, Sapele, Ajimele, Ugbevwe, Jesse, Mereje, Okpe, Jeddo, Ohorhe, Aghalope, Arhagba, Amukpe, Aragba, Okubia, Okwetolo, okugbade, Warri, Gudugudu, Ajagolo, Elume, Ughoren, Oyeke-Okuke, oku-Ufuoma, Orerokpe, Oviri-Okpe, Adeje, Umiawha, Oviri, Anwai, Agbor, Isselle-Uku, Ubulu-Uku, Onicha-Olona, Ezi-Illah, Otulu, Ugbolu, Akwuku, Igbo, Umunede, Ekuku, Boji-Boji Owa, Obamkpa, Idumu-Ogo, Aniofu, Ubulubu, Aninwachokor, Otolokpo, Ogwashi-Uku, Mbiri, Owa-Alero, Onicha-Ugbo, Abavo, Ibusa, Obior, Ute-Ogbaje, Akumazi-umuocha, Otor-Udu, Ekpan, Ogorikoko, Kabowei, Bulu-Angiama, Kolawere, Erowha, Toro-Angiama, Effurun, Ogbolokposo, Agoloma, Patani Town, Ebrumede, Senebe, Ajamogha, Aragba, Ughoton Town, Onogborhe, Ogharefe, Abbi, Abraka, Azuowa-Abavo, and Akumazi Umuocha, among others.

For DELT4SLOG II, NDEBUMOG’s Budget Trackers visited several communities in Delta State for budget tracking activities. Some communities visited are Jeremi/Okwagbe, Igbodo/Onicha-Ugbo,Obiaruku, Irri/Aviara, Ute-Erumu/Owa, Oyibo/Owa-Ofie, Umunede/Mbiri,Eku, Kokori,Iyede/Olomoro, Abbi/Emu-Obodeti, Asaba-Ase/Abari, Onicha-Olona/Ezi, Ugbolu/Akwuku-Igbo, Boji-Boji Owa, Illuelogbo/Orogun, EkukuAgbor/Umutu,Ejenesan/Ugbevwe,Emadedja/Esaba,Orerokpe/Ohe,Kwale/Ashaka,Ekampamre/Usiefurun,Ibrede/Ofagbe,Otor-Udu, Obamkpa/Idumu-Ogo, Oviri-Okpe, Ovu/Agbarho and Abigborodo. Others are Effurun,Ebrumede, Owa-Alero, Odurubu, Warri, Ibusa, Uzere, Egini, Illah, Ebu, Ebedei, Koko, Opuama, Atigwo, Akpobonu, Ohore, Ekpan, Amai, Oghior, Iwhre-Nene, Ufuoma, Otibio-Owhe, Edegrode, Etua-Etiti, Isieke/Ugbomanta, Aghalokpe, Umuaja, Ijomi-Oghara, Ajagbodudu, Alisime/Oza-nogogo, Oghara, Egbo-Kokori, Oboro,Ojobo, Okpara Waterside, Ugbekele/Mosogar, Obodo-Ogwa, Azuowa-Abavo, Torugbene, Opuraza, Iyede-Ame, Kantu, Samagidi, Okwe, Orhuwhorun, Orere-Ewu, Gbokoda, Ugbokodo, Ugono-Orogun, Tamigbe, Bulu-Angiama/Toru-Angiama, Bomadi, Okpara-Inland, Patani, Ogbe-Ijoh, Mereogun, Owhelogbo, Ogedegbe and others numerous to mentioned.

Under DELT4SLOG III, NDEBUMOG’s Budget Trackers visited several communities across Delta State for budget tracking activities.  These are Warri, Mereje, Ufuoma, Ughelli, Oghara, Omosomo, Orere, Ndemili, Sapele. Agbor, Ofagbe, Obotebe, Aladima, Ojobo, Burutu, Olobe, Koko, Onicha-Olona, Okere-Urhobo, Edjeba, Aghalokpe. Emevor, Ugbakele, Mosogar. Agbarha-Otor, Azouwa- Abavo. Ogbolokposo, Ogume,EkuEffurun, Owa, Alero.Odorubu.Mbiri.Boji Boji – Owa, Uduohpori, Ogiame, Ewu, Kokori.Uzere, Isele Mkpitime.Ogwashi- Uku.Orhoapkor,Ute-Erumu, Owere-Olabor, Egini.Mosogar, Onicha-Olona, Okpara Inland,Jesse Town. Okurekpo, Oha, Ugbokodo Town, Ugono-Orogun, Umuoru,Ekapkamre, Otu-Jeremi, Okwagbe, Oginibo, Oghior, Orerokpe, Oviri Okpe, Aragba, Ekiugbo,Iyede, Olomoro, Emede, Oleh, Ugbolu, Akwukwu Igbo, Usiefurun, Orhuwhorum, Ekreravwe, Orhoakpor, Isiokolo, Ekrebuo, Ovhoakpor, Umutu, Umunede, Iyede, Amai, Ezeonum, Abbi, Orugun, Umubu, Arhagba, Patani, Bulu-Angiama,Toro Angiama, Iteragbi, Ogbe Adjarha, Umeh, Ugbenu, Ovwian, Osubi, Asaba, Isaba, Alajda, Ute Okpu, Ute Enugu, Eruemukokohwarien, Okolori, Afor-Abuator, Onicha-Ugbo,Ubulu-Uku, Egwe, Igbuku and Aviara, among others.

Rivers state LGAs and communities visited by NDEBUMOG for budget tracking activities during “Deepening Expenditure Line-tracking for States and Local Governments in the Niger Delta (DELT4SLOG I)” are Ikwerre, Khana, Gokana, Eleme, Obio/Akpor, Omuma, Oyigbo, Ogu/Bolo, Etche, Ahoada, Tai, and Emohua. Locations covered include but are not limited to Elekahia, Rumuomasi, Trans-Amadi, Elelenwo, Woji Town, Elimgbu, Oyigbo, Rumuosi, Eneka, Rumuola, Diobu, Rumuolumeni, Isiokpo, Omerelu, Agip- Rumueme, Abacha Road, Eleme-Junction, Ada-George Road, Eneka/Igbo Etche, Ogbogoro, Egbelu, Rumuokoro, Wimpey, G.R.A, Rukpokwu, Rumuigbo, Yeghe, Dere-, Kpor, Gbe, Sii, Eekem, Luuawi, Kparior, Botem, Bunu, Baghana, Lumene, Kagbangha, Bori, Kaani, Sogho, Khana, Oyigbo, Kono, Andoni, Elele, Obele,  Ahaoda, Ndele, Ndashi-Etche, Umuebelu, Ogbogoro, Rumuohalu, Rumuokoro, Akpajo, Apa-Ogwa, Rumuewhara, Rumunduru, Eliozu, Mile 4, Sii, Omademe, Obono, Umunachi, Ozuzu, Ozuoha, Omuanwa and Ogbidi, Kinageri, Ohiaselu, Ogbogbo, Idu, Obsinkwu, Rumuovorlu, Rumuoeke, Borikiri, Amadi-Ama, Okparaki, Okarki, Okujagu, Garrison, Ogbunabali, Eteo, Nchia, Aluu, Ihugbogo, Rumuekini, Buguma, Oginigba, Onne, Rumuji, Rumuodogo, etc.

During DELT4SLOG II, Rivers state LGAs and communities visited by NDEBUMOG with budget tracking activities are  Bori, Bodo, Etche, Oyigbo, Tai, Eleme, Emohua, Gokana, Ahoada West, Diobu, Rumuoghalu, Ogbogoro, St. Johns, Mgbuogba, Rukpakulosi, Stadium Road, Peter Odili Road, Eliopranwo, Rumuekini, Umuechem, Ozuzu, Okobe, Orowurukwo, Lumene, Apani, Ogbakiri, Rumuwoji (Mile 1), Iloabuchi, Mgbuakara, Aker Road, G.R.A, Ubima, Eagle Island, University of Science and Technology (UST), Omuanwa, Degema, Oginigba, Aba Road, Eneka, Etitinwo, Boms Street, Eastern By-pass, Rumunduru, Eligbolo, Eliozu, Rumuomasi, Okujagu, Elele-Owerri, Nkpolu, Abuloma, Mothercat, Amadi Ama, Port Harcourt Airport,  University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, (UNIPORT), Igbo Etche, Whimpey, Borokiri, Okparaki, Okehi, Ihie, Omerelu, Isiokpo, Rumuokwuta, Azikiwe Road, Nanka Street, Chinda Road, Choba, Woji, Rumuokwursuhi, Igwuruta, Afara, Akpajo, Gbenue, Rumuosi, Boue, Kereken, Agip, Rumuola, Okarki, Old Port Harcourt Township, Oduoha, Okporo, Garrision, Bernard Carr, UTC, Lulu Briggs Road, Andoni, Opobo, Egbede Aluu, Ake Road, Okwelle, Rumuokalagbo, Emole, Obidianso, Reclamation Road, Rumubekwe Estate and Iwofe, among others. Other communities visited in Rivers state for DRGs tracking activities are Ebukuma, Uyenda/Egedem, Ibotirem, Sanga-Ama, Abalama, Ilelema, Oporo-Ama, Ifoko, Sama, Bille, Ke, Oguruama, Bakana, Owuogono, Wakama, Iwokiri, Ele, Isaka Town, Okrika Mainland and Okujagu-Ama, Rumuokwurushi    Kpite, Nonwa Luuwii, Kwawa    Bera, K-Dere  Ogu Town , Omademe, Isiokpo  Okochiri, Ibaka, Abam Ama ,  Okehi, Umuebulu, Umuechem, Ndashi  Egberu, Obeakpu ,  Egwede, Ngo,  Umuodiri Umuogba , Aleto, Ebubu Agbonchia, Alesa, Onne , Okpoghudhodo , Erema , Degema Town , Port Harcourt  Mgbundukwu, Diobu, Rumuodara, Rumuodogo I & II, Ibaa, Elibrada, Oduoha, Rumuigbo, Ogbunabali, Nweol, B-Dere, Eliozu, Afam Uku, Afam Nta, Gream-Ama, Ogan Ama, Bori, Rumuwiji, Nkpolu, Nonwa, Luuwa, Erema, Okarki, Umaujuloke, Mgbuitanwo, Okposi, Ovogo, Rumuche, Abalama, Owerewere, Ihube, Ubeta, Umunachi/ Umuagwu, Mogho, Rumuodomaya, Rumuopara etc.

Some aspects about these visits and outcomes are captured in our publication-DELT4GLOG I-published in 2013. Our book-THE OIL MONEY & YOU! Published in 2014 equally captures more information for these budget tracking activities.

FIGHTING A COMMON ENEMY

Thisday Newspaper, Wednesday, 29 August 2012 06:50

Abimbola Akosile writes about government’s attempts to involve citizens in the struggle against corruption in public procurement processes.

They came in droves, united in curiosity. The spacious hall for the event in Benin City, Edo State, was filled to the brim, with spillovers outside.

Men, women, boys, girls, the aged and even a wailing baby; they all came to hear about a process which allegedly has a major bearing on their lives and livelihoods. They came to hear and see how the long-running issue of corruption could be tackled, even at their levels.

The occasion was the fourth phase national sensitization on the Public Procurement Act (PPA), which was organized by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) for the South-south zone of the country.

The one-day event, facilitated by the Niger Delta Budget Monitoring Group (NDEBUMOG) led by Mr. George-Hill Anthony, was attended by government officials, Ministry workers, academicians, professionals and artisans, National Youth Service Corp members, civil society organizations (CSOs), undergraduates, Secondary School students and the media.

The one-day event focused on the Public Procurement Act 2007, which was signed into law by the administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, to ensure transparency in public procurement processes and curb official corruption in the country.

The Act

The Public Procurement Act regulates the procurement of goods and services in the public sector in Nigeria. It was enacted with the objective to ensure that public funds are used economically, effectively, transparently, and without discrimination. The Act applies to all categories of public sector procurement, ranging from major infrastructure projects to routine departmental purchase. It harmonises existing government policies and practices by regulating, setting standards and provides the legal and institutional framework and professional capacity for enthronement of transparency, accountability, value for money and efficiency in the procurement of works, goods and services in the country.

To ensure adherence, the Public Procurement Act established the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) popularly known as the ‘Due Process Office’ responsible for monitoring and oversight after procurement. Hence it is expected that BPP will put in place, a mechanism to restore openness, budgetary discipline, optimal cost and efficient project implementation.

The Act beefed up the powers and responsibilities of BPP. Unlike the Due Process Office which reported directly to the President, BPP no longer forms part of the Presidency instead it reports to the National Council on Public Procurement (NCPP), a committee which is headed by the Minister of Finance. Its statutory members also include the Attorney General of the Federation and the Economic Adviser of the President amongst others. The BPP has also been given the implicit authority to vet contracts signed by the state and local governments.

These were out of bounds for the old Due Process Office which had no power to scrutinize contracts awarded by state governors or local government council chairmen. The BPP is also charged with ensuring the proper disposal of government property at fair value through open competitive tendering.

Compliance Level

A recent report published recently by Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) titled’ Implementing the Nigerian Procurement Law: Compliance with the Public Procurement Act, 2007’has found that the level of implementation and compliance with the provisions of the PPA by the procuring entities, bidders and contractors, the Bureau of Public Procurement and other relevant agencies evaluated was poor.

Civil society observers, Federal Ministries and extra ministerial departments otherwise called, procuring entities or MDAs, contractors, suppliers, and bidders provided information for the evaluation. The report revealed a rating of 35 per cent compliance for procuring entities, compared to a rating of 8 per cent compliance for bidders and contractors. It found that the poor compliance of contractors may be the reason they do not take effective advantage of the complaint/appeals mechanism provided in the Act. The poor compliance rating of contractors was in the area of financial capability, professional and technical qualification, equipment and infrastructure, payment of due taxes and pension contributions, amongst others.

Also, PPDC disclosed that the rating of bidders by civil society actors had a significant 31 per cent indeterminate answer. The reason noted for this was the non-access to records and information relating to the bid examination and evaluation processes.

“The PPA 2007 provides that every procuring entity invite at least one representative of a civil society organisation working in the area of good governance and accountability in addition to a representative of a professional body with expertise in the area of the goods, works or service being procured to observe the procurement process, and that every citizen is entitled to information and document relating to public procurement, once a winning bid is selected.

“Despite these provisions, and from the rating above, it can be observed that access to information relating to bid examination and evaluation process is very limited and in some cases perhaps non-existent, which in turn limits the opportunity for citizens monitoring of public procurement at the federal level in Nigeria”, PPDC, headed by Mr. Chibuzor Ekekwuo noted.

BPP Intervention

In a keynote address to flag off the sensitization workshop, the Director-General of the BPP, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, said the process of implementing the Public Procurement Act requires the dutiful commitment of all stakeholders.

To him, the citizens are “no doubt part of the key entities in the procurement chain and your pivotal roles on individual basis cannot be over emphasized. That is the reason why gatherings like this that provide the opportunity to educate public servants deserve commendation.

“This campaign, as you are aware, is to enlighten contractors, public servants, consultants, politicians, civil society, NGOs, professional associations and the general public on the provisions of the Act.

“It provides an opportunity for interaction with the stakeholders from this zone on how they can take maximum advantage of the law to compete effectively in national procurements. Once we establish a synergy, we would have left no stone unturned in ensuring that all hands are on deck in our bid to stamp out corruption through best Procurement practices.

“The BPP hopes to take Nigeria to a level where best practices in Public Procurement are implemented in the overall interest of national development. National development would come if corruption, which mainly takes place through shoddy procurement practices, is eliminated.

“It is the belief of the Bureau that if public contracting system is governed by the principles of integrity, transparency, competence and competitiveness as national ethos, a good ground would have been provided for the social, cultural, infrastructural and technological advancement of the country.

“It is expected that in the near future, corruption in public procurement would have completely given way to open, transparent, and competitive Federal procurement system that is integrity – driven, and upholds spending within the budget to ensure speedy implementation of projects in order to achieve value for money without sacrificing quality and standards”, the DG added.

Media Synergy

Speaking on ways to interlock the media with the public procurement process, a senior journalist and Assistant Political Editor with The Guardian newspaper, Mr. Alabi Williams, said to scale up beyond the present level, the Media, civil society and the BPP Secretariat can continue to collaborate, to share ideas and information.

Because of the technical nature of the issues involved, Williams said a more scientific approach needs to be adopted. He urged stakeholders to encourage the media to show greater interest in procurements through trainings, special roundtable for editors, arranging competitions for independently investigated breaches of the procurement law and processes.

“Government should demystify its information system and guarantee access to public information for the Media and for the public. So far, there are still obstacles in the application of the FoI act because bureaucrats are not willing to operate transparently.

“There should be regular collaborative efforts with the media to mount pubic campaigns that would educate the public on what to look out for when they are recipients of contract awards in their communities. They should be educated on terms of such contracts and what to do when contractors abandon projects or perform below standards. The public must first have an idea of what the standards are.

“Media representation in the procurement bureaucracy at whatever level should not be traded for political gains. Rather, competence, independence of mind and capacity to deliver should be the criteria to be used in such appointments”, Alabi added.

Walking the Talk

Elaborating on the Act, the Acting Executive Director of the Centre for Advanced Social Sciences (CASS), Dr. Sofiri Joab-Peterside, said it aims to reduce corruption amongst government’s administration of contracts and bids, by ensuring efficiency in resource management.

To him, “this is important because corruption was the order of the day as laws and financial regulations were routinely broken to the extent that government was not realizing policy targets.” According to Peterside, “Efforts have been and are still being made to ensure that political office holders and top bureaucrats at the state levels are purged of corruption in public procurement.

Peterside, in his presentation, also added that an improved public system would have a beneficial effect on the economic condition of the nation, because transparency in government procedures is necessary to usher in a great and dynamic economy to ensure a just and egalitarian society.

“Stakeholders must embark on awareness creation on the existence of this law among the public and policy makers and aggressive advocacy for BPP to jail any corrupt Nigerian or company. This will advance the war against corruption, promote issue-based politics, and prevent the subversion of the legal system with financial laws and regulations respected.

“Community people and civil society actors must work to ensure compliance with the Act as that is the only way to establish a procurement culture that is based on competition, transparency, and value for money, as well as professionalism, in conduct of government business in Nigeria.

“CSOs and Communities must sustain engagement with the National Assembly with the aim to amend the Act to make it pro-people in areas of service delivery and value for money.

“The main challenge limiting the successful implementation of the Act is a general lack of awareness and ignorance about the existence of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) among the citizenry and policy makers”, he added.

Given the present murky scenario in the subsidy fraud in the oil industry and isolated cases of official corruption at both national and state levels, the implementation of the PPA 2007 is crucial, and its domestication at the state level would help to curb corruption, which is hindering national development. That is a good starting point.

There are other success stories that are available in www.nigerdeltabudget.org that are not listed or synchronized to this section.

Niger Delta Budget Monitoring Group (NDEBUMOG) was conceptualized and founded in July 2005. The organization is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and holds a Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations.

From inception, NDEBUMOG has contributed significantly to Nigeria’s and global development processes through partnerships, collaborations, research, lobbying and capacity building to communities and relevant stakeholders. These are on areas of public procurement, budget analysis, budget monitoring/tracking, basic economic literacy, shadow budgeting, tracking of illicit financial flows and enhancing communally centered capacity to pursue fiscal justice and social equity. NDEBUMOG equally campaigns and propagates for inclusive (participatory) budget, fair and justifiable taxation, and remediation of audit gaps in Nigeria’s extractive sector.

NDEBUMOG is the pioneer civil society group that engages in budget work across the Niger Delta, networking, and synergizing with other fiscal governance CSOs across Nigeria. Many budget and fiscal governance activists across the region benefitted, either, on capacity enhancement, mentorships, collaborations or from budget intelligence, among others, from NDEBUMOG. We have equally related critically with Anti-Corruption Agencies (ACAs).

In October 2005, following Nigeria’s exit from London and Paris Club of creditors through a debt relief that was granted to Nigeria, after the payment of $18 billion (negotiated) exiting threshold. There was an agreement that Nigeria, must, channel benefits of the debt relief to pro-poor expenditure lines funding. A monitoring and evaluation mechanism was developed for the Paris Club DRGs, which brought together, government, private sector, and civil society into a (joint) monitoring and evaluation structure for evaluation and tracking of impacts of the DRGs to Nigeria. NDEBUMOG was among CSOs selected through competitive bids for the monitoring and evaluation exercise that lasted from 2006 to 2013. During this assignment, NDEBUMOG contributed to several reports and populated the National (Monitoring) Portal through a national reporting structure. These were tailored to measure Nigeria’s national progress towards Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015. The monitoring structure was managed by Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs (OSSAP-MDGs), which also handled coordination of releases of field reports. Presently, OSSAP-MDGs (in Nigeria) is referred to as OSSAP-SDGs. The United Nations equally engaged NDEBUMOG in the Post 2015 Consultative processes that birthed the SDGs. The Federal Government through the Budget Office of the Federation (BOF) also engaged NDEBUMOG as sector-expert in the Medium-Term Sector Strategies from 2008 to 2011.  NDEBUMOG was assigned to Federal Ministry of Defence in 2008, Federal Ministry of Niger Delta in 2009, 2010 and 2011. NDEBUMOG still engages with the government on MTSS/MTEF, though processes and methods keep changing, depending on the government in power.  NDEBUMOG was among invited discussants by the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) to the 14th Nigerian Economic Summit in 2008.

In November 2006, NDEBUMOG conducted a capacity enhancement training on “Procurement Due Process” for Local Government officers across 18 Local Government Areas in Cross River State. This was in line with NDEBUMOG’s commitment for responsive fiscal governance. The event was organized in collaboration with the (then) Budget Monitoring & Price Intelligence Unit (BMPIU), now refers to as Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP)-State House, Abuja, Cross River State Planning Commission, together with the Local Government Service Commission. Support for this training was provided by United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID)-REFORMS Program. It was the first of its kind in Cross River State by a civil society organization as of 2006. In addition, through partnership with Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs (OSSAP-MDGs), NDEBUMOG collaborated with the Budget Office of the Federation (BOF) to conduct a training on “Budgeting for MDGs in the Niger Delta” for MDAs across the region. This was with support from National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) at Calabar in 2007. MDGs Line Ministries across the six south-south states participated. This workshop resulted in another collaboration between Bayelsa and Cross River state government for capacity sharing on Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

Around 2006, NDEBUMOG consolidated (collaborative) partnerships with fiscal entities, including, the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP), State House.  BPP was (then) known as Budget Monitoring & Price Intelligence Unit (BMPIU). Collaborating with other civil society groups, NDEBUMOG played a critical role through advocacies and (legislative) lobbying for final passage of Nigeria’s Public Procurement Act in 2007. Following NDEBUMOG’s strategic relationship with the BPP, NDEBUMOG was appointed facilitator of five (5) BPP’s zonal sensitization programmes to enlightened Nigerians about the Public Procurement Act in Nigeria’s south-south geopolitical zone. These events took place in Calabar (2008), Port Harcourt (2009), Asaba (2011) and Benin City (2012). There was also BPP’s Federal Government Contractors Forum in Asaba in 2010.  NDEBUMOG was the lead technical facilitator at the Forum.

Before the formulation of Bayelsa State Public Procurement Bill to the State House of Assembly, the (then) government of Bayelsa State, under the leadership of Governor Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (who later became Nigeria’s President), conducted a pilot training on “Procurement Due Process” for senior civil servants in Bayelsa State. The event took place in February 2006 at the Sport Complex in Yenagoa. It was a collaboration between Bayelsa State Government and Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit (BMPIU), State House, Abuja. NDEBUMOG was the only civil society organization that was invited (among technical facilitators) to deliver a paper on “Domestication of Due Process Mechanism in Bayelsa State”. Part of NDEBUMOG’s recommendations (on end users’ inclusion) was captured in S.28 of the Bayelsa Public Procurement Law. This Act was signed into Law by the (then) Governor Timipre Sylva on the 17^th of June 2009.

In 2007, the British High Commission, in collaboration with Oxfam GB and Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), organized a training programme on “Improved Budget Management Systems for Effective Local Government Administration in Nigeria”. The program was targeted at Legislative Councilors in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta State. NDEBUMOG was MOSOP’s Technical Partner for the project. NDEBUMOG also provided technical support during DfID’s Strengthening Accountability in the Niger Delta (STAND) project. STAND was initially handled by IDASA but later handed to Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN). NDEBUMOG was elected to the Board of the National Procurement Watch Platform in 2008. In 2012, NDEBUMOG voluntarily resigned from the position.

Remarkably, NDEBUMOG led a team of experts that drafted (civil society’s version of) Edo State Public Procurement Bill. Afterwards, Edo State legislature harmonized and adopted vital provisions from the version into the central Bill, which was deliberated and passed by Edo State House of Assembly. It was signed into law by (then) Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in 2012.  This assignment was conducted through collaboration with Environmental Rights Action (ERA), Benin City, with support from Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA). Edo State Public Procurement Act was passed with responsive clauses. The law is communally friendly! Some of the responsive clauses included: quarterly state of public procurement report to citizens; needs assessment and analysis; civil society monitoring and observation of bidding processes; community inclusion; membership of civil society in the Board, among others.  In 2011, the Federal Government appointed NDEBUMOG into a team of experts that was mandated to carry out a five-day Procurement Audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). This assignment was conveyed through a letter with ref no: BPP/S.11/CCMD/VOL.VII/433 dated 5^th July 2011 Ironically, there was a bottleneck! The assignment was frustrated, which led to immediate constitution of the Oronsaye’s Committee by the Federal Government to probe the agency. The Committee’s report, among others, recommended immediate dissolution of the (then) NDDC’s Board. The Oronsaye’s Committee recommendations was enforced by the Federal Government on the 13th of September 2011. NDEBUMOG’s expertise on procurement audit was further reechoed by the Federal Government through a letter dated 27^th July 2015 with ref: BPP/S.I/VOL.XLX/511 for another assignment. NDEBUMOG has been invited by agencies of the Federal Government to observe bidding processes for capital procurement(s) and related fiscal matters, among others. Some of these were conveyed through letters with these reference numbers: MNDA/PROC/26/VOL.1/10/33,NDBDA/PPC/VOL1/12/005,NDBDA/PPC/VOL1/13/005,NDBDA/PPC/VOL1/09/014,MNDA/PROC/26/VOL/1/10/1,MNDA/PROC/26/VOL/1/10/1,2519/S.1/EITI/VOL.1/1861/SDGs/OSSAP/PM&E/05/,PS/NPC/GC/06/IV/352,BPP/DG/2012/435,BPP/DG/2012/334,2519/S.1/MIS/VOL.1/31,BPP/DG/2015/183,BPP/DG/2014/730,SSAP/MDG/M&E/60/TIII,SH/COS/70/A/4575,SAP(S&R)/VOL.011/01,BPP/S.1/CCM/10/VOL.1/126,SH/COS/70/A4691,2519/S.1/MIS/VOL.1/10,BPP/RDD/13/VOL.1/185,BPP/DG/2013/1085,BPP/DG/2013/353,BPP/2013/926,BPP/DG/2014/370,BPP/DG/2014/111,BPP/DG/2012/005,BPP/DG/2012/1012,BPP/DG/2010/833,BPP/DG/2011/854,SSAP/MDGs/OP/1/II/T,2519/S.1/VOL.1/09,BPP/DG/2012/1216,BPP/DG/2013/638,SSAP/MDGs/CSO/20,SH/BMPIU/T.13,BPP/DG/2013/541,BPP/DG/2010/899,BPP/RDD/16/VOL.1/130,BPP/DG/2013/143,HMF/FMF/0/09/1, etc.

On engagements with Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), the Niger Delta Budget Monitoring Group was elected to NEITI’s-Civil Society Steering Committee in 2010. Later in 2011, the organization was elected as Civil Society Liaison Organization of NEITI/Head of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative’s (NEITI) Civil Society Steering Committee. A position that subsisted till 2012. NDEBUMOG’s representative was part of Nigeria’s delegation to the Paris EITI Conference in 2011. It was an event that the 1st EITI’s Validation for Nigeria was announced. Within this period, precisely in 2010, NDEBUMOG was elected to lead a mega (national)- Coalition for Accountability and Transparency in Extractive Industries, Forestry and Fisheries in Nigeria (CATEIFFN). The coalition’s membership included, Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON), Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), et al. It was during NDEBUMOG’s headship of CATEIFFN that the end-to-end research on the character and nature of Nigeria’s extractive industry was unveiled at Yar’ Adua’s Centre, Abuja. The end-to-end (research publication) is (evidently) in the libraries of several Nigerian Universities. Upon completion of the first tenure of CATEIFFN’s leadership (2010/2011), NDEBUMOG was reelected (involuntarily) for a second tenure. NDEBUMOG’s management objected and resigned. It is on record that NDEBUMOG is a critical stakeholder in Nigeria’s EITI processes. A research into NEITI’s archives can validates this fact always!

After the formation of Economic and Financial Commission’s (EFCC) Anti-Corruption Revolution Campaign (ANCOR) in 2009, NDEBUMOG was elected as Rivers State Coordinator of ANCOR. Later in ANCOR’s National Convention, NDEBUMOG was elected unopposed and as south-south (zonal) representative to ANCOR’s National Coordinating Committee (Board) under the EFCC. ANCOR operationalized under the EFCC through support from European Union’s support to Anti-Corruption Agencies in Nigeria. ANCOR’s platform was later mishandled by overzealous attitude of some civil society actors, which led to the dissolution and disbandment of ANCOR’s structure by EFCC. Between 2014 and 2016, other civil society actors, through collaboration with the EFCC came together to formed Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Support Network (ACE- Network) and readmitted NDEBUMOG into its membership.

Sub nationally, NDEBUMOG has engaged over 627 (state) government agencies in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Rivers state. As at December 2020, over 1,080 Local Governments officials benefited from fiscal governance knowledge through the Niger Delta Budget Monitoring Group. Outside governmental beneficiaries, over 29, 433 participants benefitted from NDEBUMOG’s projects and programmes. Some of these were from Campaign Against Election Violence in Nigeria (CAEVIN), Deepening Expenditure Line Tracking for States and Local Governments in the Niger Delta (DELT4SLOG), Strengthening Transparency and Accountability in the Niger Delta (STAND), including, Financing for Development (F4D)- Strategic Partnership Program (SPP). NDEBUMOG provided technical implementation, collaborations, and partnerships for these programs. Indirectly, it is estimated, over 3 million people were impacted. Kebetkache Women Development Centre entered a technical partnership with NDEBUMOG in 2016. The technical partnership with Kebetkache was facilitated by Oxfam and lasted for 3 years. Over 3,000 people, mostly women, benefitted from this technical partnership in areas of livelihoods, shadow budgeting, basic economic literacy, and fiscal inclusion.

Key Action Items

Alongside the development of our strategic objectives, we considered ‘Key Actions’, which are expected to be undertaken to achieve NDEBUMOG’s strategic objectives. We have identified several Key Actions critical to the achievement of NDEBUMOG’s strategic objectives. These Key Actions were carefully formulated to ensure programmatic connections to appropriate activities within NDEBUMOG’s modus operandi. These Actions are not to be affected by external factors and are wholly within NDEBUMOG’s control, making us (clearly) accountable for their implementation.

NDEBUMOG’S INSTITUTIONAL KEY ACTION ITEMS:

• Conduct research, tracking, procurement audit, shadow analysis, scoping studies, and projects’ investigations with advocacy for reforms and actions.
• Carry out bribery index, focusing on selected sectors.
• Disseminate results of internally and externally generated research.
• Organize policy dialogues on good governance with policy makers and duty bearers from key sectors.
• Conduct policy reviews and issue briefs to support advocacy for reforms in key sectors.
• Commission position papers on improving governance in key sectors.
• Disseminate policies and legislations on public procurement and fiscal responsibility.
• Establish and strengthen networks and partnerships for improved governance.
• Build capacity of partners and civil society organizations to effectively promote good governance.
• Support CSOs to mainstream transparency and accountability issues into their work.
• Experience and knowledge sharing through BEL and shadow budget to help communities.
• Documents of good practices for replication and scaling up.
• Establish and strengthen community voluntary accountability committees.
• Introduce and promote citizens score card on key sectors.
• Sensitize communities on corruption and its impacts against effective service delivery.
• Publish and disseminate guidelines for promoting accountability and transparency.
• Carry out training for the media on budget implementation and reporting corruption, generally.
• Support development and implementation of pacts between communities and States, Federal and Local Governments/ service providers.
• Carry out studies on the nature and impact of corruption on businesses.
• Advocate for legal and policy reforms to address corruption in the private sector.
• Print and disseminate messages on corruption in public-private activities.
• Identify and sensitize informal and formal businesses on corruption.

Hold meetings, which would bring together, states and non- state actors, alongside, other stakeholders to identify and agree on a minimum set of indicators for political finance transparency in Political Parties. Organize workshops and meetings to bring together, anti-corruption crusaders and political parties on financing elections, together, with oversight bodies to advocate for adoption of a benchmark for anti-corruption and party finance regulatory framework. Carry out monitoring of the electoral processes and issue reports on such exercises, as its affect quality electoral outcomes for transformative fiscal governance in the short, medium, and long terms. Carry out monitoring and evaluation exercises to gauge value for money and allocational equity, among others.

Thematic Areas

Budget analysis, budget monitoring, budget advocacy, budget tracking, procurement monitoring, projects audit, extractive industries transparency, shadow budgeting, livelihoods through agricultural value-chain, pro-poor legislative lobbying, monitoring and evaluation, responsive and fair tax education, impact analysis, fiscal justice, scoping studies, shadow analysis, anti-corruption campaigns, research, tracking of political campaigns financing, environmental accountability, community development, among others.