The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have launched a Local Government Website Pilot Initiative in Nasarawa State to promote transparency, accountability and citizens’ participation in grassroots governance.
The initiative, themed, “Deepening Transparency and Accountability at the Grassroots Through Digital Disclosure,” is designed to provide citizens with access to information on local government allocations, budgets, expenditure, procurement processes, projects and service delivery.
Speaking at the launch, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transparency and accountable governance, declaring that secrecy in local government administration would no longer be tolerated.
He said citizens would be able to track funds allocated to their local councils and monitor how such resources were utilised.
“Once funds are received, the people will know what was received, when it was received, and how it is being utilised,” the governor said.
Sule stressed that transparency goes beyond publishing government information, noting that it also involves empowering citizens to monitor projects, access public records and participate actively in governance and development.
The project, a collaboration between NITDA and ICPC, is being piloted in Nasarawa, with plans to extend the initiative to all 774 Local Government Areas across the country.
The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, described the initiative as a major step towards transforming local government administration through technology and bringing governance closer to the people.
He said the project was not merely about creating websites but establishing digital platforms that would make local governments more transparent, accountable, responsive and accessible 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.
According to him, the initiative would strengthen governance, encourage citizen engagement and create economic opportunities by engaging local talents to develop, manage and sustain the digital platforms.
Inuwa explained that NITDA’s broader vision was to transform all 774 local governments into digitally enabled institutions capable of delivering improved public services and better experiences to Nigerians.
Also speaking, ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, described the initiative as a significant step towards strengthening accountability and preventing corruption at the grassroots, particularly with the growing emphasis on local government autonomy.
He maintained that transparency must go hand in hand with autonomy, stressing that digital disclosure would enable citizens to monitor public spending, track projects and access vital information about the activities of their local councils.
Aliyu said transparency should not be seen as a punitive measure but as an effective instrument for building public trust, improving service delivery and promoting responsible governance.
The initiative is expected to position Nasarawa State as a model for nationwide implementation, with standardised digital platforms providing public access to local government activities across the country.
The collaboration between NITDA, ICPC and the Nasarawa State Government underscores the growing role of technology in promoting accountability, strengthening citizen participation and improving governance at the grassroots.
With the planned expansion to all 774 local government areas, the initiative is expected to enhance public oversight of government activities and ensure that citizens can monitor not only government commitments but also how public resources are deployed to deliver development.
