By Khalid Idris Doya
Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), a Non-governmental organization has launched a mobile App known as the ‘Office of the Citizens’ on budgetary and procurement processes in Bauchi state.
CITAD Senior Program Officer, Isah Garba said that the project is geared to improve service delivery through effective citizen participation in the budgetary and procurement processes in Bauchi state.
Garba at a press conference in Bauchi yesterday said that the project focuses on building the capacity of the legislators, public officers and civil society activists in the state to be able to work together to promote effective citizens’ participation in the governance process of the state.
According to him, the project currently works in six Local Government Areas of Alkaleri, Bauchi, Katagum, Misau, Ningi, and Toro in the state with a special focus on Basic Education, Procurement, Freedom of Information and the Budgetary process.
Malam Isah Garba explained that the goal of the project is to strengthen citizen’s participation in governance through active participation in the budgetary and procurement processes of the state.
He told the press that the objectives of the project are to enhance the capacity of 40 CSOs to engage both government and citizens in the budget process as means of improving citizens’ participation in budget processes.
“It is also to enhance the skills of 40 government officials in the interface with citizens to collect, collate and use citizens input in the budget process”, Garba said.
It will similarly facilitate the monitoring of procurement processes in the focal areas of education, health, and youth and women’s development, as the initiative would also help citizens monitor public projects in their communities and provide feedback to the government on status and project implementations.
He said the project resolved to leverage technology to bridge the time and location gap, and reduce cost implications on project reporting, and assist the government get instant reports on projects from the communities.
The Manager revealed that the application was developed using Java8 programming language, with PHP and MYSQL as a database management system that encrypts any user information in the server.
The app can serve as an interface platform between the citizens, public officers and legislators in the state, where citizens can effectively participate in decision-making and improve transparency and accountability in the state.
“The state budget documents released by the ministry of budget and economic planning will be uploaded on the app so that users can easily access the documents from the app. alternatively, users can access the platform using any browser through https://bauchibudgettracker.com.ng”.
CITAD therefore called on civil society organizations and community-based organizations in Bauchi state to download the App, utilize it, and sensitize partners on reporting project implementations.
