Government might be distrusted because it is perceived to run public affairs in a “shady” way. Such perceptions are often ‘backed up’ with figures found on the pages of newspapers, or rumours making the rounds. But no matter how legitimate the accusations of embezzlement and wasteful spending levelled at public office holders may seem to us, they cannot be taken beyond the verbal duels at newspaper stands. This simple fact is also quite disorienting. The apathetic attitude a greater percentage of Nigerians have towards national issues that actually affect them partly stems from this feeling of helplessness. But thanks to organisations like BudgIT, the inaccessibility of data on government spending for public projects is being tackled head on.
BudgIT is an organisation that advocates for open data. And it’s not just for the sake of having options. As its name suggests, its primary focus is with government budgets at the Federal and State levels. It tries to provide simplified forms of these often very technical documents, in order to empower people with the information they need to hold their elected officials to account. And it goes beyond merely explaining the budget in simple language. Projects listed for implementation in budgets are also monitored, and citizen-driven correspondences are made available for individuals and communities to access at their convenience. All of this is made possible through their website at yourbudgit.com.
The BudgIT website provides information on such things as the budget for education, statistics on matters related to Federal and State Governments, Oil and Gas, corruption, and current hot topics in Nigeria’s economic and political sphere. One brilliant thing about the site is its creative representation of data in colourful infographics, which appeal to people who would care less for an excel sheet filled with numbers. Other features of the site include the provision for data request; and the Tracka platform, which allows citizens to track the progress of projects in their area listed for implementation in the budget.
Since 2011 when it was founded, BudgIT has grown to become an active voice for improved access to data on government spending. Oluseun Onigbinde, co-founder of the organisation, says he started BudgIT while he was still a banker. He saw that Nigerians were being kept in the dark as far as the use of their tax money by the government was concerned. In recent times, interest in government expenditure has risen considerably, and BudgIT has played a key role in making this happen.
Sometimes, need gaps are talked about as being ‘obvious’ with the benefit of hindsight. But it takes a rare ability to detect them when the rest of the world thinks about them as permanent fixtures rather than as voids that should be filled. BudgIT has not only identified a communication gap between the government and the governed; it has proceeded to fill it with data. Because of their persistence in doing this, the information gulf that has fostered a culture of resignation to the fate of irresponsible governance is now being narrowed.