The Citizens’ Watch, an initiative of Reformers Of Africa, was launched on Thursday in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, insideoyo.com reports.
Reformers of Africa is a Pan-African Civic-Tech organization— dedicated to promoting and supporting ideals, principles and practices of participatory governance, digital social innovation, peace and government accountability in Africa.
While speaking, the Team Lead, Reformers of Africa, Mr Ayomide Alao, said the Citizens Watch is a promise tracker that is designed to enable citizens, civil societies, journalists, scholars and public policy analyst to track and rate the most significant campaign promises of government officials, in a bid to promote accountability and participatory governance.
He said that it was born out of the conviction that there is no better way to enhance good governance than a fundamental citizen engagement.
He added that the purpose of the project is to develop a culture of constructive dialogue between the government and the governed, in a bid to enhance the quality of basic public services delivery in education, health, agriculture, infrastructures etc.
Alao said the inaugural promise tracker is #GSMWatch (Governor Seyi Makinde’s watch), the incumbent Governor of Oyo state.
“#GSMWatch allows you to track and measure the most significant and measurable promises made by Governor Seyi Makinde, in a bid to promote public accountability and drive citizens engagement in governance in Oyo State.
“The tracker keeps you abreast of the activities and works of the Oyo state government and empowers you to hold data-driven debates and conversations about the governments work for resident of the state.” he said.
He added that the team will peruse policy document, media engagements, campaign websites, transcripts of speeches, debates, and statements made during rallies searching for trackable promises and confirm if these promises have been fulfilled, on going or forgotten.
He gave the website address of the Citizens’ Watch as http://www.thecitizenswatch.com/
His words: “It is worthy of note that to setup a promise tracker, such as GSM WATCH, our team will peruse policy document, media engagements, campaign websites, transcripts of speeches, debates, and statements made during rallies searching for trackable promises.
“It is to these promises that we shall hold public office holders accountable, nothing more.
“We’ll publish updates on progress, or lack thereof, on each significant promises been tracked. We will rate outcomes, not intentions or proposed solutions.”
Present at the luncheon were Barrister Timi Olagunju, a tech lawyer and Policy consultant; Barrister Love Ikhine, Citizen Gavel; Mr Mr Elkanah Oluyori, Head of Strategic Partnership, Reformers of Africa and others.
HOW IT WORKS
The Citizens Watch makes use of an offline and mobile technology tracking tools, to track the most significant campaign promises of public office holders and ultimately rate each promise using the following metrics:
Not Started: Every government promises begins at this stage. It indicates that the promises
Ongoing: This metric indicates that the promise is in the works.
Fifty/Fifty: This indicates that a promise is done halfway- the promise have been partly completed, less than the official’s original promise.
Against a Brick Wall: Promise earn this rating when its fulfillment is being challenged or jeopardized by a legislative act, injunction or a natural disaster.
Promise Broken: This metric is used for a promise that is not kept.
Promise Kept: This indicates that a promise has been completely fulfilled.
