Open Budget Survey 2025: Debt Accountability Module: Findings for Nigeria

Nigeria’s debt assessment takes place within a context of rising borrowing needs and increasing pressure on public finances. While the country is not classified as being in debt distress, debt servicing consumes a significant share of government expenditure, raising questions about fiscal sustainability and the quality of oversight over borrowing decisions. The OBS Debt Accountability Module, completed by IBP Nigeria, assesses how public debt is planned, reported, and overseen in this context. The module finds that while Nigeria has a centralized Debt Management Office and publishes regular debt statistics, key gaps undermine accountability. No standalone Annual Borrowing Plan is published, the Medium-Term Debt Strategy is not updated annually, key budget execution reports were unavailable during the assessment period, and there are no institutionalized mechanisms for public engagement on debt decisions at any stage of the budget cycle. The module recommends introducing a minimum disclosure standard for each new public loan, consolidating borrowing information across budget and debt documents into a single accessible platform, integrating structured review of the debt strategy into the legislative budget process, expanding the scope and timeliness of audit oversight on public debt, and creating an early, structured entry point for public input on borrowing and debt strategy within the budget cycle.

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Nigeria OBS Debt Module Report EN

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Towards Closing the Debt Accountability Gap: Findings from the 2025 OBS Debt Module Pilot

Key findings from 11 countries 1 executive government provided information linking debt and borrowing plans to service delivery. Most debt strategies had borrowing targets, but none informed on projects to be financed. 5 executive governments published a debt management strategy that is timely and connected with the annual budget planning process. 5 legislatures reviewed the […]
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