The Edo State Government in partnership with a payment and data verification firm, Tracology, has installed metal QR-enabled plates on 1000 buildings in Benin City, the state capital, in a drive to boost the government’s capacity to track and verify revenue collection using digital tools.
Recall that the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, had in his second term inauguration speech, set a target of running a digital government before 2025, harping on the imperative of the state government to leverage technology to drive inclusive and sustainable development.
Founder, Tracology, Dr. Emmanuel Okena, said the firm is aligning with Governor Godwin Obaseki’s vision for a digital government that deploys technology to make life easier, smarter and more rewarding.
He said the firm executed the pilot phase of its solution in the state in partnership with the Edo State Waste Management Board, Ministry of Environment and the Edo State Skills Development Agency (EdoJobs).
“We have a solution that helps everybody in the revenue administration matrix, from the government to the citizen, the service agency, revenue agency, their agents and every other person in the value chain. What we offer is transparency and accountability in the system so that people can see what they owe the government, services rendered, expected revenue and a tracking system that keeps all the actors abreast of the status of the system.
“For government, the system helps to track revenue, easily identify defaulters, and ensures accountability across board.”
He added that the solution has been deployed in waste management in Edo State, recording 100 percent success rate in its deployment to track payments in 1000 houses in Ogbe Quarters, Benin City.
He added that with the success recorded, the firm was looking at scaling the solution to other parts of the Benin metropolitan area, before consequent state-wide roll-out, noting that “it would plug leakages in government revenue drive and ensure accountability and probity, which are the hallmarks of the Obaseki-led administration in Edo State.”
