Accountability : Yobe Group develops AI to track LG budgets

Accountability : Yobe Group develops AI to track LG budgets

An NGO, Spotlight for Transparency and Accountability, has developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) application, “Bayani.AI,” to aid tracking of local governments’ budgets, statutory allocations and earnings.

The Voice Media Trust (VMT NEWS) reports that the NGO developed the application in collaboration with the MacArthur Foundation and other development partners.

Mr Muazu Modu, the NGO’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who spoke at the launch of the AI system in Damaturu on Monday, noted that the application would help reformers and citizen journalists to hold public officials to account.

According to him, the application gives the public access to a plethora of information about the activities of the 774 local government areas in the country in real time.

“Our system can give you complete analysis of data in a simplified way.

“Maybe you want to know how much Damaturu earned in the last five years. The AI will compile the data for you cumulatively and however you wish to segregate it,” he said.

Modu said the AI also had inbuilt facilities to track activities of primary healthcare centres, engage visitors in chatting and present data in visual, graphical and tabular form.

The CEO said the application would also support efforts at reviving local governments in line with the July 2024 Supreme Court’s judgement, which affirmed the full financial autonomy of the 774 local government councils in the country.

“ This AI specially focuses on local governments as a level of government that is the closest to the people at the grassroots.

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“ We are deeply concerned by the enormous challenges at this level of governance, which is caused by the existence of the states and local governments’ joint accounts and other impediments,” he said.

In his remarks, Mr Yunusa Zakariyau, Executive Director, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Kano, highlighted the nexus between technology and democratic advancement in the country.

According to him, technological tools like AI and social media enhance access to information about governance, engagement between citizens and authorities and serve as feedback generating mechanisms.

“Civil society organisations use technology for advocacy to promote transparency and accountability, two critical requirements for sustainable democracy,” he said.

Zakariyau called on government at all levels to promote technological awareness, accessibility, availability and affordability to bridge the technological divide in the country for democratic and economic development.