… participants describes programme as eye-opener
In Ekiti State, there is hope of an improved budgeting system at the local government level in line with best practices.
Some of the various irregularities that had characterized the system over the years, such as inadequate participation of the citizens, lack of access to budget documents, transparency and accountability will now become a thing of the past.
This followed a one-day Citizens and Government Consultative Dialogue on ‘Inclusive and Transparent Budgeting Processes in Nigeria’s LGAs’ organised by Social Development Integrated Centre/Social Action.
At the workshop, participants who include community leaders, council officials, Persons with Disabilities, media and Civil Society Organizations were educated on the importance of inclusive and transparent budget with a call on them to begin to put it into practice at their various levels.
In his welcome address, the Project Lead and Senior Programs Officer, Democracy and Governance, Dr. Prince Edegbuo said transparency, accountability and participatory governance has been lacking at the Local Government Areas.
According to him, “the Citizens’ and Government Consultation Dialogue is convoked within the frame of the project “Strengthening Advocacy for Transparent and Inclusive Budgeting Processes in Local Government Areas in Nigeria with support from the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF).
“The objectives is to dialogue on best practices on fiscal disclosures with emphasis on Inclusive Budgeting; to demand for the design and development of communication channels for citizens’ interface, learning and knowledge sharing on issues around the LGAs
“To request LGA’s leadership to develop and hoist functional websites for depository of information and proactive disclosures; to sign a pact document with community stakeholders to ensure the use of NEEDs Assessments in the execution of projects for community developments; to strategize on ways to achieve local government Autonomy.”
On his part, President of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, in Ekiti State, Comrade Oluseyi Olatunde urged citizens to be actively involved in the campaign for local government autonomy.
Comrade Olatunde noted that political apathy is one of the major reasons inclusiveness in budgeting processing is not adequately achieved, as most community dwellers no longer show interest in who lead them and the activities carried out.
His words: “There is no accountability and transparency because the people are no longer interested in what is being done by the Local Government. People do not take ownership of projects established by Local Government.”
The stakeholders including; community leaders, women groups, LGA’s officials and youth associations, CSOs, PWDs and others resolved to embark on high-level advocacy to government, community members, traditional institutions towards achieving LG autonomy.