Nigeria’s parliament has announced plans to launch a new application called NASS Eyes to monitor the budget transparency and implementation of government agencies. The app will also track the adherence to the federal character principle by the agencies.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, disclosed this during a courtesy visit by a tech company, AfriLabs, over the weekend. He said the app will enable the lawmakers to oversee the performance of budgetary allocations and the delivery of public services more efficiently.

He explained that the app will require the agencies to upload some key performance indicators that will be visible on a dashboard in the parliament. He added that the app will also help the citizens to hold their representatives accountable and demand better governance.

The initiative is part of the efforts by the parliament to improve the state of budget transparency and accountability in Nigeria, which has been rated low by various reports. According to the 2021 Open Budget Survey, Nigeria scored 45 per cent in budget transparency, which is below the global average of 52 per cent. The survey also found that Nigeria provided limited opportunities for public participation and oversight in the budget process.

The NASS Eyes app is expected to be launched soon and will complement other existing platforms that aim to simplify and monitor the budget for the citizens. One of such platforms is BudgIT, a civic organization that uses technology to provide access to the budget and track the implementation of government projects across the country.

The app is also in line with the global trend of using digital tools to enhance fiscal transparency and accountability. Some examples of such tools are NASA’s Eyes, which allows users to explore the Earth, the solar system, and the universe with real-time 3D web-based apps, and the World Bank’s BOOST, which provides access to detailed government expenditure data from over 40 countries.

The NASS Eyes app could be a game-changer for Nigeria’s budget transparency and accountability, if it is implemented effectively and used widely by the lawmakers and the citizens. It could also foster more collaboration and trust between the government and the people, and ultimately improve the quality of life for Nigerians.

Source: The Guardian