NITDA, ICPC Deploy Technology To Strengthen Local Government Accountability

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have launched a digital platform initiative aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s 774 local government areas, with Nasarawa State selected for the pilot phase.

The initiative, themed “Deepening Transparency and Accountability at the Grassroots Through Digital Disclosure,” is designed to enable citizens to monitor local government allocations, budgets, expenditure, procurement processes, projects and service delivery through dedicated council websites.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Nasarawa State, Governor Abdullahi Sule said his administration was committed to ensuring openness in local government administration, stressing that residents must have access to information about public funds received and how they are utilised.

“Once funds are received, the people will know what was received, when it was received, and how it is being utilised,” the governor assured.

Sule explained that transparency should go beyond publishing government information to empowering citizens to monitor projects, assess public spending and participate actively in decisions affecting their communities.

He said the initiative would strengthen public access to governance information and promote accountability at the grassroots, particularly as local governments exercise greater administrative and financial autonomy.

The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, described the project as a governance transformation programme that would leverage technology to improve public administration and bring government closer to citizens.

“We are not simply building websites. We are laying the foundation for digitally empowered local governments that are transparent, accountable, responsive and connected to the people they serve,” he said.

Inuwa explained that the initiative would provide a common digital platform through which residents could access information on council activities, while strengthening citizen engagement and improving service delivery.

He added that the project would also create opportunities for local technology professionals to participate in developing, managing and maintaining the digital platforms, thereby supporting the growth of indigenous digital capacity.

According to him, NITDA’s broader objective is to facilitate the digital transformation of all 774 local governments, moving beyond website development to the adoption of technology-driven systems that improve governance and public service delivery.

Also speaking, ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, described the initiative as an important intervention for preventing corruption and promoting accountability at the local government level.

“Transparency must accompany autonomy,” Aliyu said, stressing that the transfer of greater responsibilities and financial powers to local governments must be matched with mechanisms that allow citizens to scrutinise public expenditure.

He said the digital disclosure platforms would enable residents to track public spending, monitor projects, access relevant governance information and engage with their local councils.

The ICPC chairman maintained that transparency should not be regarded as a punitive measure against public officials but as an instrument for building public trust, improving service delivery and encouraging responsible management of public resources.

The initiative comes amid renewed attention to local government financial autonomy and demands for stronger accountability mechanisms to ensure that increased fiscal powers translate into development at the grassroots.

With dedicated websites expected to publish information on allocations, budgets, procurement and project implementation, the platform could provide citizens, civil society organisations and oversight institutions with additional tools to identify discrepancies between approved spending and actual project delivery.

However, the effectiveness of the initiative will depend on regular updates, the accuracy of information published, accessibility of the websites and the willingness of local authorities to disclose relevant financial and administrative records.

Nasarawa is expected to serve as a model for the proposed nationwide rollout, with NITDA and ICPC seeking to extend the initiative to all 774 local government areas.

The project represents an attempt to use digital disclosure as an accountability mechanism, ensuring that citizens have access not only to information about government allocations but also to how public resources are deployed to meet community needs.