The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the BudgIT Foundation, aimed at strengthening fiscal transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement across Nigeria’s public finance system.
The signing ceremony took place at the FRC headquarters in Asokoro, Abuja, with key stakeholders from the fiscal governance and anti-corruption sectors in attendance.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Emmanuel Uche, Project Manager for Anti-Corruption under the EU Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme, praised FRC Executive Chairman Victor Muruako for injecting renewed “fiscal responsibility energy” into the Commission.
“The Fiscal Responsibility Commission must not be weakened by legislative gaps.
The National Assembly should consider amendments that will empower the Commission to effectively discharge its mandate,” Dr. Uche said, noting that enhancing FRC’s powers would strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal governance and anti-corruption efforts nationwide.
BudgIT Deputy Director Vahyala Kwaga lauded the Commission’s performance under Muruako’s leadership.
“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,” he said.
Chairman Muruako described the MoU as a strategic step to enhance fiscal oversight, citizen engagement, and institutional capacity building. “This collaboration is designed to improve public participation in fiscal processes and reinforce accountability mechanisms in Nigeria’s public finance management system,” he stated, while also calling for legislative amendments to the Fiscal Responsibility Act and improved staff welfare.
The MoU outlines collaboration in several key areas:
- Civic Technology Integration: Deployment of BudgIT platforms like Tracka and the BudgIT Budget App for monitoring and feedback.
- Data Sharing and Research Support: Joint policy analysis and provision of fiscal-related data.
- Public Engagement: Town hall meetings, sensitization campaigns, and community dialogues.
- Capacity Building: Training for FRC staff, journalists, youth groups, and civil society actors.
- Institutional Coordination: Appointment of liaison officers for effective implementation.
Observers say the partnership reflects a growing synergy between statutory regulators and civic technology organizations, combining legal oversight with data-driven citizen engagement to enhance transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s public finance sector.
Bede Ogueri Anyanwu, Deputy Director of Strategic Communications at the FRC, noted that the agreement marks a milestone in promoting fiscal discipline and citizen participation nationwide.
