BudgIT a Nigerian civic organisation that applies technology for citizen engagement and institutional improvement , has launched an app that would enable citizens track specific projects in communities and federal allocations to Local Government Areas in the country.
The company, which launched operations in Lagos, Nigeria, was founded by Oluseun Onigbinde and Joseph Agunbiade in 2011 to provide social advocacy and facilitate societal change using technology.
The organisation said Tracka Mobile 2.0 is expected to connect citizens to the government as a user can post or vote for a community need. The mobile application would provide simplified data on federal allocations to the three tiers of government
It will also provide access to ongoing public projects across all 36 states, and aid needs assessment exercises for elected representatives to optimize project nomination and implementation.
Budglt made this known at the virtual launch of the Tracka Mobile 2.0 app.
The organisation said, “On the application, citizens can view all the federal projects in a state in a particular year, search and report specific projects in their community, and view monthly federal allocations to their Local Government Area. The Mobile Application will also connect citizens to the government as a user can post or vote for a community need.
“This will aid elected representatives, the MDAs, CSOs and NGOs to conduct a proper needs assessment and tailor interventions towards them. The mobile application will provide simplified data on federal allocations to the three tiers of government, ongoing public projects across all 36 states, and aid needs assessment exercises for elected representatives to optimize project nomination and implementation.
The Tracka Mobile 2.0 will strengthen the advocacy capacity of CSOs, citizens and pressure groups to engage public institutions and demand improved and sustainable service delivery. Likewise, it will provide research and policy analysts with a repository of data they can leverage for policy documents.”
Country Director Budglt Nigeria, Gabriel Okeowo said the app is something they feel would change the dynamics of citizens’ participation in governance and the way it approaches advocacy in Nigeria
He said particularly about the utilization and management of our commonwealth and the implementation of public projects which have been ridden with abandonment, poor implementation, and all sorts of other fraudulent activities.
Members of the public have applauded the app describing it as a welcome development which gives citizens a platform to demand accountability from it’s elected as well as appointed public officers.
