FIC REPORT (NASARAWA STATE) – Nasarawa State Governor Engnr Abdullahi Sule has flagged off a digital transparency initiative for the 13 local government areas aimed at giving citizens access to information on public funds, expenditure, procurement and projects.
The flagged-off ceremony of the pilot project by Governor Abdullahi Sule was held at conference hall of the state,s Ministry for Local Govermment and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lafia.
The initiative was jointly developed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency with the theme, “Deepening Transparency and Accountability at the Grassroots Through Digital Disclosure.”
Governor Sule in his remarked at the ceremony, said that the websites would enable citizens to monitor local government allocations and expenditure, making it difficult for councils to deny receiving funds already paid into their accounts.
He described the initiative as an important mechanism for strengthening accountability, particularly following the financial autonomy granted to local governments.
The governor further stated that, the digital disclosure initiative will be extended to the state government to enable citizens to track public funds from the state to the local government level.
“Sometimes, the money that is supposed to go to the local governments comes through the state, and there could be inconsistencies. It is important that the state also joins this process so that everybody is on the same page for transparency and accountability,” he said.
Governor Sule also directed that Nasarawa State Information Technology and Digital Economy Agency (NASITDA) as the state’s technical coordinator, to work hand in hand with ICPC and NITDA on deploying the websites, training council personnel and ensuring regular updates and data security.
He urged local government chairmen to take responsibility for the accuracy and regular publication of information, stressing that the usefulness of the platforms would depend on how effectively they were maintained.
Engnr Sule noted that local governments in the state were increasingly undertaking major development projects, paying full salaries and implementing promotions. He also disclosed that gratuities covering the period from 1996 to 2012 had been paid in full.
Earlier, NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, said Nasarawa was selected for the pilot flaggs-off project following its performance in transparency and openness among local governments in the country, stressing that the initiative would improve governance, promote citizen participation and create economic opportunities by bringing public services online.
According to him, the websites would provide interactive platforms for citizens to access information on government allocations and projects, submit complaints and engage their councils.
He said that NITDA would provide technical standards, website templates and training, while encouraging local governments to engage indigenous digital talents to develop and maintain the platforms.
He explained that the initiative would eventually be extended to all 774 local government areas in the country.
The ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN in his remarked said the project was designed as a preventive measure against corruption by making government activities and financial records accessible to the public.
He disclosed that the commission had recovered more than N5 billion from its pilot examination of the financial records of selected local governments, underscoring the need for stronger accountability at the grassroots.
Adamu Aliyu further pointed out that the websites would cover council finances, budgets, procurement, staff recruitment, citizen engagement and anti-corruption measures, just as he emphasized that the platforms were not intended to witch-hunt local government officials but to promote openness and protect public resources.
In his goodwill message, Emir of Lafia, HRH Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad 1. commended ICPC and NITDA for selecting Nasarawa as the pilot state and expressed hope that the initiative would be sustained by succeeding administrations.
In his welcoming speech, the Secretary to the State Government, Labaran Shuaibu Magaji, SAN, urged local government officials to support the initiative and ensure its successful implementation, noting that the experience gained in Nasarawa would guide its expansion to other states.
Solomon Mundung
EO Information & PRO
Edited By
ARI, LIMAN AMINU.
Head of Centre
Fic, Lafia
Nasarawa State.
