Websites of any institution, whether public or private, serve as gateways that provide information to researchers, investors, tourists, and individuals seeking knowledge about their activities. In Nigeria, the blame for the country’s inability to develop a vibrant economy and infrastructure for citizen growth and development has often been placed on the federal government, while states and local governments, despite receiving substantial allocations from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), are overlooked.
According to a report by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and 774 local governments, received a total of N8.8 trillion as allocations from the FAAC between 2020 and 2021. However, statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reveal that 133 million Nigerians are multi-dimensionally poor, with 63% of the population lacking access to healthcare, education, living standards, employment, and security.
Websites play a crucial role in holding sub-national governments accountable. A website is a collection of web pages and related content, accessible through a common domain name and published on at least one web server. Websites can serve various purposes, such as disseminating news, facilitating education, enabling e-commerce, providing entertainment, or fostering social networking. Some websites require user registration or subscription to access content, while others rely on advertising revenue.
Transparency, accountability, and citizen involvement are key principles of democracy worldwide. These objectives can only be achieved when people have access to government information, which is why the demand for freedom of information continues to grow. In Nigeria, the media and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have advocated for more interactive state government websites, enabling citizens to engage and ask questions on various issues.
An assessment of the websites of the 36 states and the FCT reveals that many are active and provide vital information on ongoing projects, investment opportunities, and the vision of state leaders for their citizens. Some states, including Imo and Abia, even upload their annual budgets on their websites, offering citizens the chance to scrutinize them and raise questions about suspicious projects, ambiguities, or duplications.
By visiting state government websites, citizens can engage with their governments and hold them accountable. Instances of budget inflation and fund misappropriation are common in Nigeria, with government officials manipulating prices or duplicating items to siphon funds for personal gain. However, citizens, armed with information from the websites, can raise questions and demand transparency at any time.
Moreover, state government websites often showcase images of both ongoing and completed projects. Citizens can use this information to validate the functionality of projects in their localities, providing feedback to government officials on whether the projects are truly serving their intended purposes.
Additionally, state investment guides available on these websites can serve as valuable resources for citizens seeking information about investment opportunities in their states.
In conclusion, state government websites play a crucial role in holding sub-national governments accountable in Nigeria. By scrutinizing budgets, questioning suspicious projects, verifying project functionality through images, and accessing investment guides, citizens can actively engage their governments and foster transparency and development. The availability of such information empowers citizens to actively participate in governance and contribute to Nigeria’s sustainable development.
