ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF PROJECT CHARTER PRACTICES ON PUBLIC SECTOR PROJECT SUCCESS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The increasing rate of project failure, abandonment, cost overruns, and implementation delays within Nigeria’s public sector has generated concerns among policymakers, scholars, and development practitioners. Despite substantial public investments in infrastructure and social development projects, many government initiatives fail to achieve intended outcomes due to weak project initiation and governance mechanisms. This study examines the impact of project charter practices on public sector project success in Nigeria. Specifically, the study evaluates how project charter components such as stakeholder identification, scope definition, governance structures, risk management, and strategic alignment influence project performance outcomes. Using a qualitative review of existing literature and project management frameworks, the study argues that effective project charter practices significantly enhance project success through improved accountability, communication, planning, and stakeholder coordination. Findings reveal that inadequate project initiation processes, political interference, poor governance, and weak institutional frameworks undermine project success in Nigeria’s public sector. The study concludes that institutionalizing standardized project charter practices aligned with international project management standards can improve public project delivery and national development outcomes. The study recommends capacity building, adoption of global project management frameworks, enhanced stakeholder participation, and stronger governance systems in Nigeria’s public institutions.