Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has announced the forthcoming launch of an application, ‘NASS Eyes’, designed to monitor budget transparency and implementation by the government’s Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). This initiative aims to enforce compliance with the federal character principle within the affected MDAs.
During a visit by the management team of AFRILABS, a high-tech company, Hon. Kalu unveiled the plan, emphasizing the parliament’s determination to rigorously oversee the utilization of budgetary allocations by government agencies.
“We are embarking on a technology-driven mechanism to enhance our oversight functions. Through the ‘NASS Eyes’ app, we will be able to remotely monitor the operations of various MDAs. This proactive approach will provide us with continuous insights into their activities, ensuring that our oversight functions are not solely reliant on paperwork submitted during our physical visits,” stated Hon. Kalu.
He elaborated on the features of the application, explaining, “The ‘NASS Eyes’ will serve as a dashboard for members of the Parliament, offering real-time updates on the activities of MDAs. By leveraging key performance indicators, we can conduct comprehensive analyses of budget performance, well before budget presentations, thus reducing the rushed and superficial nature of such processes.”
Furthermore, Hon. Kalu highlighted the role of technology in scrutinizing the impact of budgetary allocations on the socio-economic landscape and emphasized the need for innovative solutions to drive accountability and transparency in the budgeting process.
In her address, Mrs. Anna Ekeledo, Executive Director of AFRILABS, emphasized the company’s track record in providing support to organizations across Africa, particularly in capacity building and fostering innovative solutions.
“We work with international and multilateral organizations, identifying and supporting innovative solutions in various sectors. Through our network covering 53 African countries and over 200 cities, we provide support and financing to young entrepreneurs, with a focus on capacity building and mobilizing funding,” explained Ekeledo.
Hon. Kalu emphasized that the deployment of technology in parliamentary oversight functions will not only assess the performance of government agencies but also bolster the E-Parliament, ultimately benefiting the citizens.
“It is evident that technology will be pivotal in driving accountability and transparency in the oversight functions of the parliament. This extends beyond the realms of business and economics, permeating into the leadership space, where the level of accountability and transparency must be elevated,” remarked the Deputy Speaker.
Ultimately, the impending launch of the ‘NASS Eyes’ app reflects the House of Representatives’ commitment to embracing technological innovations to ensure efficient governance and prudent allocation of public resources.
