The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) is an organization established in 2003, with its headquarters located in Abuja. PPDC focuses its interventions on promoting citizens’ participation in governance processes and strengthening transparency and accountability, while also improving ethics and integrity in the public and private sectors. PPDC is one of the leading organizations in civil society space in Nigeria dedicated to promoting wider public participation in procurement to curb corruption. PPDC has more than 20 years of experience in advocating and campaigning on integrity issues, especially in public procurement, contract implementation, and public access to information.
We are recruiting 10 Data collectors:
Job Title: Data Collector
Location: Oyo and Ebonyi
Employment Type: Short Service Contract
Reporting to: MEARL Specialist, PPDC
Duties and Responsibilities:
The following must be considered before an enumerator is cleared up for payment
Collect data on CACM baseline assessment in target areas.
Conduct key informant interviews using the Kobo Toolbox and facilitate FGDs with PPDC-structured questionnaires.
Adhere to ethical guidelines, maintaining confidentiality and respondent privacy.
Obtain informed consent from participants before collecting data.
Properly handle and store data collection tools and devices.
Regularly upload collected data to the central database as instructed.
Perform basic data quality checks to ensure completeness and consistency.
Submit daily reports on data collection activities.
Report challenges encountered in the field.
Participate in debriefing sessions to provide feedback on the data collection process.
Develop an assessment report at the end of the fieldwork
Qualifications
Must have completed his/her first degree
Minimum of three (2) years experience collecting data in an INGO/NGO.
The individual should have experience in data collection methodologies, familiarity with survey tools like (Kobo toolbox, ODK, and Comcare), and a strong understanding of ethical considerations, particularly in justice sector assessments.
The person must be meticulous in recording responses, verifying information, and ensuring data integrity.
Strong ability to engage with diverse respondents, including justice sector stakeholders, detainees, and court officials, while maintaining professionalism and neutrality.
Understanding of legal and judicial systems, human rights principles, and the specific challenges within the court administration and case management sector.
Must understand context and informed consent
Personal Qualities:
Excellent analytical and interpersonal skills with the ability to work cooperatively, tactfully, and diplomatically with a culturally diverse group of people.
Demonstrate a high degree of integrity.
Must be flexible and able to improvise to handle a variety of situations
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
By virtue of Section 36(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, any person who is charged with a criminal offence is deemed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction, also the Law has made it clear that a defendant whose case is before a court is entitled to bail pending the judgment of the court. Despite this provision of the law, many Nigerians still languish behind bars and are referred to as ‘pretrial detainees’.
This scenario played out in the case of Wadi Nada, who was arrested and charged alongside two other defendants in May 2022 and since then has been on remand at the Suleja Custodial Centre. Due to financial constraints, Wadi could not afford to pay a lawyer to defend him in Court, his family also made attempts to get him out of custody, but unfortunately it seemed like the odds were never in his favour as no progress was made in his case.
Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months and eventually months turned into years. Wadi never imagined that he would be at the mercies of the Nigerian Criminal Justice system. At a time when it seemed like all hope was lost, luck finally smiled at him as PPDC visited Suleja Custodial Centre in September 2024 to conduct its routine client interview and fortunately, Wadi was one of the detainees interviewed on that fateful day. His case was swiftly assigned to PPDC’s pro bono lawyer June Idang Etim, and immediately, she took up the case with diligence and utmost dedication.
His bail application was filed in court on 19th December 2024 and it came up for hearing on 15th January 2025. On the said date, the Court didn’t hear the bail application noting that it wasn’t ripe yet to moved and further adjourned it to a later date. On 3rd February 2025, the matter came up again, but this time the Correctional Service failed to produce Wadi in Court. These challenges did not deter PPDC’s pro bono lawyer, because we are determined to ensure that access to justice is available to not just Wadi but also every other pretrial detainee whose spirit has been crushed by the system.
The case came up again on 3rd March 2025, and this time around the odds were in Wadi’s favour. The bail application was moved and was graciously granted by the erudite Judge. The Court ordered that Wadi be released from the Suleja Custodial Centre. Our lawyer ensured that all necessary bail bonds were perfected, and on 6th March 2025, the custodial centre gates were opened and Wadi was for the first time after 2 years and 9 months in detention allowed to walk out freely without any restrictions.
Wadi has reunited with his family, his case is still ongoing in Court and he would henceforth attend his trial from his home. The disadvantages of pretrial detention clearly outweighs any advantages. The fact that Nigeria’s custodial centres are overcrowded poses a big challenge in our criminal justice system. If detainees who are entitled to bail are allowed to attend their trial from their home pending the decision of the Court, the outrageous high number of pretrial detainees will drastically reduce.
The Nigeria government signed on to the OGP in 2016 and made commitments to drive accountability, transparency and inclusive citizen participation in governance. Within the past 9 years, Nigeria has implemented three National Action Plans (NAP) with ambitious reform commitments, co-creating its first, second and third NAPs in 2016, 2019 and 2022 respectively and currently implementing the third NAP which is to run from 2023 to 2025 alongside with civil society organizations.
Nigeria joined the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in July 2016 as the 70th member country, marking a significant step toward transparency, accountability, and inclusive governance. Through its participation in the OGP, Nigeria has enhanced inclusiveness in decision-making, improved coordination among government agencies, and minimized duplication and resource wastage. It has also strengthened collaboration with civil society and fostered greater trust between the government and citizens.
Key institutions, such as the Budget Office of the Federation, the National Bureau of Statistics, and the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation, have leveraged the government’s commitment to openness to deliver on their mandates more effectively. As a result, the government has become increasingly responsive to citizen feedback and concerns, leading to more informed and impactful policymaking.
The National Action Plan (NAP) is a strategic roadmap that embodies the core objectives of the Open Government Partnership (OGP). It encompasses a broad range of thematic areas, each with specific commitments to be implemented by government institutions including Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in collaboration with civil society organizations (CSOs) and the organized private sector (OPS). This collective effort aligns with the principles of openness, accountability, and citizen participation that define the OGP.
The NAP aims to deepen and mainstream transparency mechanisms and citizens’ engagement in the management of public resources across all sectors. Through a consultative process between government and non-state actors, the National Steering Committee (NSC) agreed to consolidate governance priorities into four thematic areas in the NAP. The thematic areas are: (1) promoting fiscal transparency; (2) access to information; (3) anti-corruption and asset disclosure; and, (4) citizen engagement and empowerment.
The NAPs which was developed along thematic interests: Fiscal transparency, public service delivery, extractive transparency, access to information, anti-corruption and asset recovery, participatory governance, inclusion, climate change and citizen engagement have recorded impact during the previous administration of President Muhammad Buhari, leading to Nigeria winning the OGP Impact Award for Commitment and progress in achieving her commitment to the OGP Principles.
Following the 2023 election transition, which led to the emergence of President Bola Tinubu for the 2023–2027 term, the administration has made several commitments and taken steps to deepen governance reforms. These include the relaunching of the Citizen Delivery Portal, approving Nigeria’s membership in the OGP Global Beneficial Ownership Leadership Group, enhancing the Nigeria Open Contracting Portal (NOCOPO), and aligning the government’s 8-point agenda with the OGP process, particularly through the inauguration of the Presidential Committee on Taxation and Fiscal Reforms.
However, these efforts have not yet yielded significant improvements in accountability and public trust. Additionally, certain policy decisions by the current administration have contributed to economic challenges, including rising inflation, insecurity, poverty, and hunger, further impacting public confidence in governance.
The change in leadership across several government institutions following the transition has created gaps in institutional memory and a lack of continuity in understanding the roles of key agencies working toward the commitments outlined in National Action Plan III.
At the same time, a shrinking civic space, ineffective citizen engagement, growing public distrust, and limited access to accurate information have weakened citizens’ ability to demand accountability from the government. As a result, the sustainability of effective democratic governance, built on the principles of transparency and accountability in line with the OGP process, is increasingly at risk.
This challenge is even more pressing at a time when Africa is experiencing a shift toward military regimes, largely driven by a lack of inclusive governance and persistent corruption.
Transition towards a more open government
Prior to the President’s commitment, Nigeria had already engaged in several initiatives aimed at achieving a more open government. Many home grown anti-corruption reforms had been initiated by previous governments. The OGP initiative, therefore, presented a complimentary platform for increased transparency, accountability, global participation, peer learning and continuous self-assessment. It also provided an opportunity for enhanced vertical and horizontal coordination for improved impact on citizens. The country has also witnessed the application of technology and innovation in enhancing an open government as is evident in the following reforms:
Financial Management Systems: Implementation of the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) and the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) has brought greater transparency to public financial management processes. The Federal Ministry of Finance, Office of the Accountant General and Budget Office regularly publish allocations of federation revenues to all tiers of government, and widely disseminate information on budget allocation and execution. Similarly, IPPIS has created a centralized database system for the Public Service with a single, accurate source of employee information.
Treasury Single Account (TSA): Full implementation of the TSA has enabled the government to better monitor the financial activities of over 900 MDAs from a single platform, reduced the amount the government loses in interest rates on borrowing from commercial banks, eliminated the process of cash backing MDAs’ accounts with commercial banks, improved the reconciliation process for MDA accounts and saved the government several billions of naira which would otherwise have been lost through corrupt practices.
Bank Verification Number (BVN): The implementation of the BVN initiative has created a centralized biometric identification system for the financial system. It has reduced fraudulent practices by dubious individuals and restored confidence in our banking industry given that it makes it possible to follow the trail of money.
Freedom of Information (FOI) Act: The enactment of the FOI Act in 2011 has made public records and information more freely available and accessible to Nigerians. Several government agencies have set up compliance structures that now enable them to respond to requests for information within the ambit of the law. The Bureau of Public Service Reform (BPSR) has adopted a unique electronic FOI platform on its website that gives real-time information to citizens and also encourages voluntary disclosure.
Public Procurement Act, 2007: The Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) is working to implement and improve transparent and competitive procurement processes in line with global open contracting principles. It is the objective of this government to pursue the automation of public procurement processes in all government agencies as the amendment to the act is ongoing at the National Assembly. Already the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has adopted the open contracting standards in its operations and is one of the first agencies of government to do so.
Beneficial Ownership Register: The Nigeria extractive industries transparency initiative (NEITI) first developed a register of beneficial owners of all companies operating in the Nigerian extractive industry. Nigeria open central register of persons with significant control (beneficial ownership register). On Thursday, 25 May 2023, Nigeria launched its Open Central Register of Beneficial Ownership (known as the Persons with Significant Control (PSC) Register) in line with its commitment at the Anti-Corruption Summit held in London on 12th May 2016.
Asset Declaration: The Code of Conduct Bureau is now able to implement its mandate of ensuring that public officers declare their assets promptly and such assets are verified and recorded in accordance with the law.
Socio-political and Economic Relevance of the National Action Plan
The National Action Plan seeks to improve the relationship between government and citizens by opening up governance for citizens to know and participate in how their government is being managed. It seeks to promote fiscal transparency through more citizen participation in the budget process, implementation of open contracting in the public sector, enhancing disclosure in the extractive industries, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the tax system and improving the ease of doing business in Nigeria.
The plan is also meant to ensure that corruption is rooted-out through the establishment of a public beneficial ownership register, the development of a platform for sharing information between government MDAs to detect and prevent corrupt practices, the strengthening of Nigeria’s asset recovery legislation and taking appropriate actions to coordinate anti-corruption activities.
Under the citizen’s engagement thematic area, the NAP led to the development of a permanent dialogue mechanism between citizens and government; review of legislation around transparency and accountability issues; and the adoption of a technology based citizens’ feedback on projects and programs. The last two commitments will improve access to information by increasing compliance with the Freedom of Information Act.
Beyond the commitments, the NAP also took into consideration cross cutting issues that will empower citizens to engage with the government and ensure proper dissemination and management of information. The cross cutting issues are: (i) Technology and Innovation; (ii) Monitoring and Evaluation; and (iii) Communication. To ensure effective deployment of these tools across all thematic areas, three working groups have been set up to develop implementation strategies and to articulate action plans to support the work of these groups.
Conclusion
Now that Nigeria is in the process of developing the NAP 4, the concern should be to take lessons from the past NAPS to enrich the development of the NAP4 on the three interrelated elements critical to advancing sustainable open governance reform. These are to (i) build high-level political commitment toward open government, (ii) empower government reformers through strategic civic engagement and (iii) support effective engagement by civil society organizations (CSOs). There exists a virtuous cycle between the state and non-state actors to relate effectively for open government commitments to be achieved. This process is expected to evolve into a virtuous cycle that will generate increasingly ambitious reforms, enhance citizen participation, and produce stronger and impact results. The idea is that the more civil society is engaged, the higher the likelihood of NAP policies and programs to be meaningful, ambitious, and to be implemented. In the words of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia, “Openness indeed empowers the civil society to become a partner of government in the process of development. In that way, the government and the citizenry can accomplish so much more in terms of political, social and economic development”
Nigeria’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, passed in 2011, was a landmark victory for transparency and accountability. It provided a legal framework for citizens, journalists, and civil society organizations (CSOs) to access public records and hold government institutions accountable. The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) played a pivotal role in the passage of the FOI Act, working alongside other advocacy groups to push for legislative action. Through relentless campaigns, strategic engagement with policymakers, and public awareness initiatives, PPDC contributed to the momentum that led to the eventual enactment of the law.
Yet, over a decade later, awareness and utilization of the FOI Act remain abysmally low, particularly at the state and local government levels. This lack of awareness is not just an information gap, it is a major enabler of corruption and poor service delivery, particularly in critical sectors like health and education.
How Low FOI Awareness Fuels Corruption and Poor Services
The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, is a federal law aimed at promoting transparency and accountability by granting citizens access to public information. However, its implementation at the state level has been inconsistent, leading to debates over its applicability across Nigeria’s 36 states.
Initially, only a few states, such as Ekiti and Lagos, took steps to domesticate the FOI Act. While more states have since considered or enacted their versions of the law. As of mid-2023, reports indicated that 16 states had yet to domesticate the Act. These include Plateau, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Kano, Sokoto, Bauchi, Adamawa, Taraba, Yobe, Imo, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Osun, and Ogun.
For many Nigerians, the FOI Act remains more of an abstract concept than a practical tool for accountability. A significant number of state governments continue to resist domestication, shielding themselves from public scrutiny. Even in states where the law is applicable, public awareness remains low, with many citizens unaware of their right to request public information. This gap in awareness and implementation weakens the Act’s effectiveness in promoting good governance and transparency at the subnational level. This lack of awareness enables corruption to persist unchallenged, as some public officials operate with little accountability or fear of scrutiny.
Through Budeshi Waka, a grassroot community engagement tour to several states in Nigeria, PPDC has uncovered red flags in the execution of education and healthcare projects, including abandoned contracts, inflated budgets, and discrepancies between awarded contracts and actual work done. PPDC’s advocacy has led to contractors and implementing agencies being compelled to return to project sites to complete or rectify substandard work.
PPDC at a community town hall meeting in Abuja and Anambra state
In the education sector, for instance, ghost schools and abandoned infrastructure projects persist because communities lack the tools to track allocated funds. Without FOI requests or contract monitoring, parents, teachers, and students remain unaware of how much has been budgeted for their schools or whether those funds have been properly utilized.
A primary school in Karon-Majigi, FCT
The health sector tells a similar story. Budgetary allocations for primary healthcare centers often vanish without a trace, leading to underfunded and poorly equipped facilities. Citizens struggling to access basic healthcare rarely know they can demand information on procurement contracts for medical supplies, staffing, or facility upgrades. As a result, public hospitals continue to suffer from inadequate resources while funds meant for improvements disappear into private pockets.
A primary health care center in Gombi local government, Adamawa state
PPDC’s Budeshi Waka engagement tour was designed to raise awareness about the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and empower communities to actively participate in governance. Recognizing that citizens at the grassroots level are the direct beneficiaries of public projects, the initiative sought to bridge the gap between government policies and local realities.
The FOI Act: A Tool for Citizens’ Trust and Better Service Delivery
When citizens can demand transparency, corruption becomes harder to conceal. Access to information allows people to track how public funds are spent, demand accountability, and push for better services. Strengthening FOI awareness is not just about governance—it is about ensuring that roads are built, schools are properly funded, and hospitals have the necessary equipment to save lives.
At the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), we recognize that information is power. This is why we are committed to bridging the FOI awareness gap through strategic interventions:
Annual FOI Rankings – Every year since 2013, PPDC ranks public institutions based on their compliance to the FOIA. Through this initiative, PPDC has promoted transparency and accountability by evaluating how effectively government institutions disclose information and respond to FOI requests. The rankings have been a significant tool for advocacy and have helped raise awareness about the need for better compliance with the FOI Act across Nigeria.
Citizen Empowerment Through BudeshiWaka – Through Budeshi Waka, PPDC engaged with community leaders, teachers, parents, health workers, and youth groups, educating them on their right to access public information and track government spending. The tour facilitated interactive town hall meetings, enabling citizens to share their experiences with failed projects, unfulfilled government promises, and the impact of corruption on service delivery. Beyond awareness creation, Budeshiwaka served as a catalyst for local action. Many community members, after learning how to use FOI requests and community monitoring tools, took steps to demand accountability from government agencies and contractors responsible for public projects in their areas. In several cases, this citizen-driven oversight led to stalled projects being revisited and completed.
State and Local Advocacy – PPDC actively engages state governments and local authorities, advocating for the full implementation of the FOI Act at all levels. We push for policies that make public data more accessible to citizens.
Partnerships with Investigative Journalists – Journalists play a key role in exposing corruption and amplifying citizens’ concerns. Through training programs and collaborations, we equip investigative journalists with the skills to use the FOI Act effectively.
Contract Monitoring and Project Fixes – PPDC supports citizens in monitoring government contracts, ensuring that projects are executed as planned. Our interventions have led to project fixes, where abandoned or poorly executed infrastructure projects are revisited and completed due to public pressure.
A Call to Action: Breaking the Culture of Silence
A transparent government is the foundation of a functioning democracy. But without citizen engagement, the FOI Act remains an unused weapon against corruption. Nigerians must move beyond passive acceptance of poor services and actively demand the right to know how public funds are spent. Civil society, the media, and government institutions must work together to increase awareness and ensure that the FOI Act is not just a legal framework but a practical tool for improving governance.
At PPDC, we remain committed to empowering citizens to use the FOI Act as a catalyst for change. By increasing awareness, strengthening advocacy, and holding the government accountable, we can close the gap between policy and practice ensuring that transparency leads to real improvements in service delivery.
The question now is: Will you demand answers? Because without information, there can be no accountability. And without accountability, corruption will continue to rob Nigerians of the services and growth they deserve.
Job Title: Office Assistant (Cleaner) Reports To: Programs Officer and Operations Manager Location: Lagos, Edo, Oyo and Kano
Job Summary: The Cleaner is responsible for maintaining cleanliness and hygiene standards in the office environment, ensuring a conducive and tidy workspace.
Responsibilities:
Clean and sanitize offices, restrooms, and common areas.
Ensure proper disposal of waste and recycling.
Restock cleaning supplies and notify management of shortages.
Identify and report maintenance issues.
Adhere to safety and hygiene protocols at all times.
Education and/or Work Experience Requirements:
Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent.
At least 1 year of experience in cleaning services.
Knowledge of cleaning equipment and materials.
Physical stamina and attention to detail.
Other information:
● Only Nigerian based candidates will be considered.
● We reserve the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the criminal background check.
