BudgIT

BudgIT is a civic start-up to present Nigerian public finances in a web platform understandable at every level of literacy and user interest. The goal is to redefine participatory governance in Nigeria while promoting open access to data and focusing on a more user-friendly presentation of state and federal budgets. Contents include charts and performance analysis for proper understanding of what budgets and public data entail. With little or no knowledge of accounting and public financial management, many Nigerians are lost when confronted with government budgets or media releases only giving macro figures, as details trickling down to citizens are not fully explained. The maze of millions and billions in “thick” budget documents tend to confuse, lacking a context for how public funds are actually spent. BudgIT serves as a bridge, using creative methods of visual intelligence, info-graphic display, mobile (web and sms) and online interface to deliver Nigerian budgets to every citizen. Enabling nonexpert people to understand budgetary and public data is critical to benchmark governance, which seekstools to foster efficiency in the use of resources, whilebuilding trust within society. BudgIT uses financial and technical expertise to deepen discussions around budgetary allocations as a contribution to citizenship participation.