UN lauds Kaduna for deploying digital technology in governance

THE Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed has commended the Kaduna State Government for deploying technology to strengthen citizens engagement in governance.

Mohammed gave the commendation in Kaduna on Wednesday, after being taken through the state’s digital citizens feedback platform for monitoring government projects at the Planning and Budget Commission by Gov. Nasir El-Rufai.

According to her, the step will ensure transparency and accountability in government, adding that it will also build the needed trust and attract public support.

“Congratulations! This is quite impressive; a laudable initiative in carrying citizens along in governance.

“There is nothing better than this in terms of citizen engagement because people need to understand what the government is doing to make their lives better,” she said.

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She called on other states of the country, including the Federal Government to key-in to the technology-driven participatory and inclusive governance.

On Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Mohammed said that the world had made some progress in the last three years, adding that more commitments were required from all stakeholders for consistent progress and result.

She said that the UN would continue to support local priorities built around inclusion to ensure that no one was left behind.

She urged government across the world to place women and young girls as well as the youth at the centre of development activities.

Mohammed also commended the Kaduna state government for undertaking a data revolution required for setting goals, effective planning, and decision making.

The UN DSG, equally lauded the state for building an effective partnership for accelerated progress towards the SDGs, describing it as a leading example for other national and sub-nation states to follow.

Earlier, El-Rufai explained that the state government had in March 2017 launched “Kaduna Citizens Feedback App” under the state’s Eyes and Ears Project for monitoring of government projects.

He said that the App, available on Android Play Store, is designed to serve as a means of communication between the government and the residents of the state, particularly on the status of ongoing projects across the state.

He described the Eyes and Ears Project as “a child of necessity”, saying, “You cannot trust that the instruction you give will be carried out rightly.

“This is our way of not only democratising project monitoring under the Open Government Partnership but also ensuring quality service delivery to the people.”