The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has expressed concern over the performance of IT projects across government agencies, citing poor design, lack of coordination, and weak oversight as leading causes of failure.
In a statement issued Monday by the Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, the agency revealed that 56 per cent of IT projects failed to meet their objectives. The assessment followed a series of visits to key oversight institutions, including the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, the Office of the Auditor General, and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP). The engagements were part of efforts to promote compliance with NITDA’s newly revised IT Project Clearance Guidelines.
“56 per cent of IT projects failed to deliver on what were promised because we go for the latest technology, and [there is a] failure to design before building the technology and lack of consideration for the business value proposition we are trying to deliver with the projects,” Inuwa said.
He noted that the revised guidelines aim to ensure proper planning, integration, and quality assurance across projects initiated by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
“We are building a digitised government service and the government is one. We need to work together, work harmoniously, the same way the IT system works to deliver these services. For us to achieve this, we need to be more intentional in the way we design and implement,” he said.
Inuwa warned that isolated implementation across agencies is undermining system compatibility.
“If we continue to design and implement in silos, they will never work together,” he added.
According to NITDA, the new guidelines introduce a phased approach to IT project implementation—Solution Design, Implementation, and Quality Assurance. Contractors must have certified personnel for each phase to be eligible for project awards.
“These measures are designed to eliminate corruption, prevent duplication, and ensure that government IT initiatives are structured to create meaningful change, fostering efficiency, equity, and fairness in public service,” Inuwa said.
At the Bureau of Public Procurement, Director General Adebowale Adedokun voiced concern over the misuse of IT projects for corrupt practices and called for better coordination with NITDA.
“We have a huge responsibility with NITDA to avoid corruption, duplication of IT projects and ensure transparency and accountability in the award of IT projects for the Federal Public Institutions,” Adedokun stated.
“It is disheartening that we are consuming resources that can be deployed to meet other needs of the country and we need to stop this and say no to wastage,” he added.
Adedokun highlighted issues such as the absence of standard bidding frameworks and inflated contract costs. He recommended the development of an IT Price Intelligence Template and proposed that MDAs pursue service-wide licences for platforms like Microsoft and Oracle to avoid repeated purchases.
He also emphasised the importance of training civil servants in IT procurement and project management. “Without proper training, officials risk being outsmarted by vendors,” he warned.
Both agencies agreed to form a joint committee to outline implementation steps and to sign a Memorandum of Understanding formalising their partnership.
At the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation, Auditor General Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira welcomed the initiative and promised to conduct a performance audit after the revised guidelines are fully operational.
The Accountant General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, also expressed support and pledged to integrate the IT clearance framework into the country’s financial system.
NITDA stated that the new guidelines replace the 2018 version and are expected to improve regulatory oversight, cost-efficiency, and digital compatibility across government platforms. It also noted that the clearance process has already helped Nigeria avoid over ₦300 billion in waste and duplication.
