The Kaduna Local Government Accountability Mechanism (KAD-LGAM) in partnership with the office of the auditor-general for local governments with support from the Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE), has commenced a Citizens’ Participatory Audit (CPA) of education projects in 15 local government areas of Kaduna State.
The exercise targets 66 education projects comprising 37 new and 29 previously abandoned projects implemented in 2024.
A statement by the KAD-LGAM secretariat signed by Alheri Waje said the initiative included six local government areas under the PLANE education intervention programme.
She said the initiative builds upon the gains of the 2023/24 uncompleted education projects tracking campaign which spurred the office of the auditor-general to commit to a performance audit.
“This year’s audit strategically aligns with the auditor-general’s 90-day performance audit window to incorporate citizen voices and drive inclusive governance,” she said.
Waje added that the CPA’s aim was to assess critical parameters including budget releases, procurement compliance, quality of work done, and the current status of projects implemented across the LGs.
“The Citizens’ Participatory Audit is not only a tool for transparency but a bridge for citizens to hold duty bearers accountable and to shape the future of public education delivery,” she added.
According to her, the CPA’s findings are expected to yield practical recommendations for the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Kaduna State House Committee on Education, enhancing their legislative oversight functions.
She added that the audit would also serve as a validation mechanism for key findings in the 2024 Education Sector Performance Review, ensuring that the perspectives and concerns of citizens are embedded in performance evaluations.
She further said the exercise would boost community ownership of education projects and foster improved service delivery, as citizens increasingly become co-auditors in public project execution.
