The Kaduna State Government has reiterated its commitment towards transparency in budget implementation and service delivery in the infrastructural sector through the CoST Infrastructure Transparency Initiative, one of the leading global non-profits focused on improving transparency and accountability in public infrastructure projects.
At a one-day media and civil society dialogue on social accountability projects held in Kaduna, the State Commissioner for the Planning and Budget Commission, Mukhtar Monrovia, reaffirmed the government’s openness to scrutiny and feedback from the public.
He encouraged citizens of Kaduna State to explore the CoST interactive portal and examine the government’s activities directly.
Monrovia said the state’s procurement and planning system remained one of the most accessible in the country, stressing that transparency and competitiveness are central to infrastructure delivery in the state.
The Commissioner assured the citizens of the state government’s commitment to a competitive and transparent process that allows stakeholders to engage and make informed decisions.
Highlighting the progress made so far, he disclosed that Kaduna had successfully covered the first half of the 2025 fiscal year and would soon commence mid-year budget and quarterly reviews, as well as early preparations for the 2026 budget cycle.
Earlier, the CoST Manager for Kaduna State, Tara Jeremiah Wyah, mentioned that the dialogue was aimed at strengthening collaboration between civil society and the media to build a strong social accountability platform.
He lamented the hostile reception some civil society organizations receive from contractors during project monitoring, hence the need for bringing all parties, including government and the private sector to foster dialogue.
According to him, the joint understanding is meant to build trust by ensuring every stakeholder plays their role responsibly.
He further announced enhancements to the state’s infrastructure data portal, ipdata.kdsg.gov.ng, which now incorporates artificial intelligence to map ongoing projects, including those in rural communities.
“Contractors do not control the information on the portal. It is the government that voluntarily discloses this data, which empowers citizens to monitor infrastructure in their communities,” said Tara Jeremiah Wyah, the CoST Manager for Kaduna State.
For his part, the Chairman of the Contractors’ Association in the state, Alhaji Ahmed Baba, appealed to the government to ensure timely implementation of approved budgets to prevent inflation from affecting project costs.
He also urged the government to approve renegotiations on time when delays extend project timelines.
Also, the Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Kaduna Branch, Engr Arege Bawa, pledged the support of engineering professionals in monitoring infrastructure projects.
He said the NSE is ready to partner with civil society and the media to provide technical insights that will aid project tracking and improve delivery outcomes.