By Nkechi Eze
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) have launched a digital transparency initiative to strengthen accountability and promote responsible management of public resources across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
The initiative, which will provide standardised and secure websites for local government councils, is expected to improve public access to financial records, enhance citizens’ oversight and promote transparency in grassroots administration.
The project was flagged off on Thursday at the Nasarawa State Government House, Lafia, by the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, and Governor Abdullahi Sule, with Nasarawa selected as the pilot state.
Speaking at the ceremony, Aliyu said local governments, being the tier of government closest to the people, must demonstrate transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.
He said the initiative was particularly important following the July 2024 Supreme Court judgment affirming the financial autonomy of local government councils and the direct payment of their statutory allocations.
The ICPC chairman also disclosed that the commission had commenced a pilot examination of local government accounts as part of efforts to strengthen financial accountability at the grassroots.
Under the initiative, the websites will provide citizens with access to information on council allocations, budgets, expenditures, procurement records and project updates, allowing residents to monitor how public resources are utilised.
Governor Sule described the project as a significant step towards promoting digital transparency and accountable governance across Nasarawa State’s 13 local government areas.
He commended the ICPC and NITDA for the collaboration, noting that the platforms would encourage public scrutiny and increase citizens’ participation in local administration.
Also speaking, NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, said the initiative was not merely about developing websites but about transforming local governments into digitally empowered institutions capable of delivering transparent and accountable services.
He pledged that NITDA would develop and host the websites for an initial period of one year.
The implementation will be carried out in two phases, beginning with the pilot deployment in Nasarawa State, including the establishment of governance structures, approval of technical standards and deployment of websites for the participating local councils.
The second phase, scheduled for January 2027, will extend the initiative to all 774 local government areas, with provisions for training website administrators, conducting system audits and formally handing over the platforms.
The nationwide rollout will also include sustainability frameworks to ensure the continued operation and maintenance of the websites.
