Why We Adopt AI Platform To Strengthen Public Accountability – Elemo

The Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI) has adopted an Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform to enhance accountability in Nigeria.

The upgraded technology platform, first launched in 2016, is now aimed at effectively democratizing citizens’ participation and involvement in efforts to curb public sector corruption and strengthen accountability at all levels of government in Nigeria.

Addressing newsmen yesterday in Abuja, during the Focus Group Discussion on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Accountability and the presentation of the newly revamped “Value for Money 3.0,” the executive director of PLSI, Olusegun Elemo, stated that the AI platform will enhance accountability and improve service delivery to citizens.

He noted that since 2016, they have supported more than 300 communities and over 1,000 citizens to actively use audit data to engage anti-corruption agencies, with a view to improving the delivery of services.

Elemo said: “While this support has always been semi-automated, our newly upgraded technology platform with AI-enabled features has fully automated the citizen-government engagement process, thereby effectively democratizing citizens’ participation in anti-corruption and accountability efforts in Nigeria.”

Olusegun Elemo emphasized that petitions on service delivery and public finance management issues, which used to take weeks and months for citizens and marginalized communities to submit to anti-corruption agencies for investigation, can now be done in less than five minutes using the newly enhanced “Value for Money” platform.

“We are aware of the weaknesses of artificial intelligence tools, but we are poised to leverage its strengths to support anti-corruption and accountability efforts in Nigeria.

“This Focus Group Discussion is a vital platform to learn with stakeholders how this new opportunity will work for all, with consideration for ethics, data privacy, and protection,” he said.