By Nkechi Eze
The Fiscal Responsibility Commission has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the BudgIT Foundation aimed at strengthening fiscal transparency, accountability and citizen engagement in Nigeria’s public finance management system.
The agreement, signed at the Commission’s headquarters in Asokoro, Abuja, brought together key stakeholders from Nigeria’s fiscal governance and anti-corruption ecosystem, signalling renewed efforts to deepen public accountability and improve fiscal oversight through strategic collaboration between government and civil society.
In an official statement signed by Deputy Director, Strategic Communication Directorate of the Commission, Bede Anyanwu, the ceremony underscored the growing synergy between statutory oversight institutions and civic technology organisations in advancing fiscal governance reforms.
Speaking at the event, Dr Emmanuel Uche, Project and Component Manager for Anti-Corruption under the EU Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme, commended the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Victor Muruako, for bringing what he described as renewed “fiscal responsibility energy” to the leadership of the agency.
He observed that while the Commission was established under the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 to check fiscal recklessness and ensure prudent management of public resources, structural limitations have constrained its enforcement powers.
“An important Commission set up to check fiscal rascality must not be weakened by legislative gaps. The National Assembly should consider amendments that will empower the Commission to effectively discharge its mandate,” Uche said.
He noted that strengthening the Commission’s legal and enforcement capacity would significantly enhance Nigeria’s fiscal governance framework and reinforce anti-corruption efforts across the country.
Also speaking, Deputy Director of BudgIT Foundation, Mr Vahyala Kwaga, praised the Commission’s recent performance, noting that its activities have become increasingly visible and impactful under the current leadership.
He described Muruako as a reform-oriented leader committed to promoting fiscal discipline and accountability in public resource management.
“The Commission’s work today is visible, measurable, and impactful. This partnership will further amplify transparency initiatives and deepen collaboration between government and civil society,” Kwaga said.
In his remarks, Executive Chairman of the Commission, Victor Muruako, described the MoU as a strategic step toward strengthening collaboration in fiscal oversight, citizen engagement and institutional capacity building.
According to him, the agreement aligns with the Commission’s broader reform agenda to promote fiscal discipline and accountability at all levels of government.
“This collaboration is designed to enhance transparency, improve public participation in fiscal processes, and reinforce accountability mechanisms in Nigeria’s public finance management system,” Muruako said.
He reiterated the need for amendments to the Fiscal Responsibility Act to enhance the Commission’s enforcement authority and called for improved staff welfare and remuneration to enable personnel perform optimally.
Under the terms of the agreement, BudgIT’s civic technology platforms, including Tracka and the BudgIT Budget App, will be deployed to support fiscal monitoring and citizen feedback, while both organisations will collaborate on data sharing, research, policy analysis, and joint public sensitisation initiatives such as town hall meetings and community dialogues.
The partnership also provides for capacity building programmes targeting Commission staff, journalists, youth groups and civil society actors, as well as the designation of liaison officers to ensure effective coordination and implementation.
In addition, the MoU contains provisions covering confidentiality, dispute resolution, anti-corruption compliance, non-exclusivity and termination procedures.
Observers say the collaboration represents a significant milestone in Nigeria’s accountability landscape, combining statutory fiscal oversight with data-driven citizen engagement tools to enhance transparency, strengthen monitoring of public resources and support ongoing fiscal governance reforms.
