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THE Federal Government had inaugurated the Presidential Delivery Tracks (PDT), and Central Delivery Coordinating Unit (CDCU), website.
The PDT/CDCU device is to track, review and periodically report the activities of MDAs, performances of ministers and permanent secretaries, among others, in the delivery of the ministerial mandates assigned to them.
The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN ) reports that the device was inaugurated on Tuesday, in Abuja by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha.
Mustapha said that the CDCU was introduced in 2019 towards the achievement of the nine priority goals of the present administration.
He said: ”PDT/CDCU App is a co-creation platform that aims to connect citizens to governance in Nigeria by increasing citizens’ access to the Federal Government’s Presidential priority policies, programmes, and projects.
“The goal of the PDT/CDCU is to promote transparency and expand access to reporting on presidential priority policies, programmes and projects.
”This is by incorporating citizens as the third layer of reporting to offer vital information that will facilitate effective service delivery.
“Over the last two years, the PDT/CDCU had successfully driven FG’s delivery initiative to incorporate a systematic feedback mechanism from the citizens into the design and operationalisation of its Performance Management System.
“This is in recognition of the critical roles of the citizens in promoting inclusive and citizen-centered governance.”
He also said that the objective of developing the ‘Citizens App’ and the website was to make it possible for citizens to, among others, report accurately and provide feedback on the implementation of government’s programmes and projects within their localities.
Another reason, according to the SGF, is that citizens are expected to participate in the coordination of Federal Government interventions in their localities and in the implementation of government projects.
“In addition, to also highlight critical issues regarding government programmes and projects that hinder the delivery of key services to citizens.
“The CDCU intends to empower citizens to make their voices heard, build a citizens engagement programme that works and participation that increases benefits, if discussed with the people,” he said.
The SGF added that this was because citizens were strongly driven by psychological and intangible factors, such as trust as well as a sense of civic duty and belonging.
Similarly, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr Zainab Ahmed, explained that the website was a citizens-based mobile tracking app which allows them to send on-the-spot feedback on project implementation aimed at promoting public accountability.
Ahmed added that the device would also improve service delivery by all government institutions.
According to her, public accountability in service delivery plays an important role in government institutions and the nation’s economy.
“Indeed, it could be successfully argued that the economic well-being of any country is dependent, to a very large extent, on the strength, integrity, and complexity of its institutions and on its accountability to governmental services.
“Thus, promoting public accountability and improving service delivery in government institutions are initiated to ensure that such objectives are achieved, ” she said.
In his contribution, Dr Chris Pycroft, Development Director, Foreign Commonwealth and Development, UK Office, commended the Nigerian government for the successful execution of the project in the country.
Pycroft stated that the PDT/CDCU represents an important step in the transparency and accountability of governments.
He said, ”the UK government had been a strong ally of the Nigerian government’s efforts to improve transparency and accountability in governance.
“We hope that the presidential delivery tracker will encourage greater government-citizen partnership and share understanding of how to improve governance in Nigeria.” (NAN)
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Tags: CDCU Central Delivery Coordinating Unit Chris Pycroft Zainab Ahmed
