Many unfulfilled promises by elected political officeholders in Nigeria have been linked to the concentration of people’s scrutiny solely on the federal government, neglecting impactful decisions made at the state level.
Speaking at the launch of a government accountability project tagged “YouthGovTracka,” a civic tech platform by a civil society group, Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI) in Kwara State, its global director, Abideen Olasupo, said that this development had created an imbalance.
“The imbalance has led to unfulfilled promises, overlooked needs, and missed opportunities for progress, especially for our vibrant youth and marginalized groups. In Nigeria, democracy is more than just a system of governance; it’s a promise of empowerment and a commitment to the people. But all too often, the spotlight of citizen scrutiny has been fixated solely on the federal government, neglecting the impactful decisions made at the state level.
But that must change. Tapping into the zeal and vigour of Generation Z, we are leveraging technology and citizen advocacy to hold our state governors accountable for the promises they’ve made for our youth’s development.
We present YouthGovTracka—an innovative online platform, a beacon of hope, and a catalyst for change. This initiative, spearheaded by the BBYDI, aims to bridge the gap between our youth’s aspirations and our state governor’s actions,” he said.
Olasupo, who mentioned that 36 youth focal points have been trained out of over 700 that showed interest in the assignment, added that these individuals, “nurtured by industry leaders and experts, are armed not with weapons but with knowledge, determination, and a mandate to monitor, question, and drive accountability in governance.”
He said that the focal points will use technology to track data, enumerate the promises made, and monitor their implementation, adding that, “But we won’t stop there. We’re not just watchers; we’re doers. Our focal points will spearhead community development projects aligned with our menu of commitments—projects that echo the promises made and demand accountability.
“Our menu of commitments is an actionable pathway designed to track the state governors’ performance in the identified thematic areas. They are:
• Prioritising Youth Voice in Governance, which empowers the young to shape governance processes
• Support for Young Candidates champions and supports aspiring young politicians.
• Creating Safe Civic Spaces fortifies legal frameworks for the security of young advocates, artists, journalists, and bloggers.
• Developing participatory mechanisms to foster channels for young people’s participation in governance. Supporting civil society organizations enables these entities to engage young people meaningfully.
• Investing in Civic Education ensures accessible civic education, especially for marginalized groups.
Also, the Citizen Accountability toolkit will guide citizens on articulating and demanding what’s rightfully theirs from the government. It’s not just a guide; it’s empowerment in action, fueling informed demands and propelling responsible governance.
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