The Home Finance Department of Nigeria’s Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning has received a financial boost of $5.6 million from the World Bank.
The funds are earmarked for the procurement of various items, including office stationeries, furniture, solar inverters, office equipment, and vehicles.
The approval for these acquisitions falls under the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability (SFTAS) project, initiated in 2018 to enhance transparency and accountability at the sub-national level.
Although the SFTAS project officially concluded in 2022, ongoing implementation of its initiatives continues, as revealed in a document obtained from the World Bank.
The project, which received a total commitment of $1.5 billion in two batches (December 2018 and December 2020), serves as a grant to state governments but functions as a loan to the Federal Government.
The procurement plan aligns with the World Bank’s guidelines, specifying the arrangements for obtaining goods and services required for the project.
The funds allocated to the Home Finance Department cover a range of needs, including office supplies, additional equipment, furniture for the SFTAS Public Service Institute, and the provision of spatial data to states.
Specifically, the department secured $25,713 for office stationery, $39,357 for extra office equipment and supplies, $64,190 for furnishing the SFTAS Public Service Institute space, and $14,842 for additional office furniture. The procurement plan also includes funds for video conferencing equipment, MiFi modems, and the implementation of spatial data provision to states.
A notable allocation of $4.78 million was approved for the provision of spatial data, reflecting the significance of this initiative.
Additionally, $409,638 was allocated for project vehicles, including those for the Programme Coordinating Unit and independent verification agent. The ministry also received funding for an Inverter Power Backup System.
Out of the 21 proposed items, two were canceled, four were successfully completed, and another was under implementation. The remaining three were pending implementation, and 11 projects were only signed as of December 2023.
The World Bank’s recent disclosure indicated that Nigeria was the leading recipient of its loans in 2022, with approximately $2.9 billion released to the country.
The country is currently servicing around $14.12 billion from 108 approved loans, with the oldest loan dating back to 1989 and the most recent approved in 2018.
In response to queries about the procurement, the SFTAS Communications Specialist, Ibrahim Mohammed, clarified that it is a regular procedure to acquire items at the beginning of a project to ensure its successful implementation.
The items are specifically intended for the use of the SFTAS office within the Home Finance Department, contributing to the project’s overall objectives.
