By Lucky Isibor,
The Executive Director of the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Rev. David Ugolor has appealed to journalists and members of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), to assist in the mobilisation of community stakeholders to make presentation to government on their needs during at the level of budget preparation and during consideration by the state House of Assembly.
Rev. Ugolor gave the charge in his welcome address at the opening session of a two-day workshop for CSOs and journalists holding in Benin City from 13th-14th August, 2020 organized by ANEEJ in its implementation of the Civil Society Advocacy to Anti-corruption and the Rule of Law in Nigeria (CASARN) project.
The project is part of the implementation of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) programme which is funded by the European Union and implemented by the British Council.
Ugolor who noted that the CSOs, journalists and the citizens have critical roles to play during the monitoring and evaluation of the budget appealed to participants whom he said have participated one way or the other in the budget process to sustain the process to hold government accountable to the people.
“This workshop on budget monitoring has been designed to improve stakeholders’ participation in the budget process in Edo State.
“CSOs and citizens in general have the right to participate in the different stages of the budgeting process. At the planning stage, CSOs can assist to organise community stakeholders to make presentation to government on their needs, during consideration at the State House of Assembly, CSOs can participate during budget defense. When the budget is being implemented and during M & E, CSOs and citizens in general have a big role to play in monitoring the budget implementation and providing feedback to government.
“We encourage all participants to take it upon themselves to keep a close watch on how government spends public funds, follow up and report on projects being executed in your areas. Where CSOs are docile, a lot of things will go wrong”, he said.
While noting that Edo State was the first state in the South South geo-political zone to join the Open Governance Partnership (OGP) in 2018, Rev. Ugolor disclosed that the State Action Plan (SAP), has been developed and awaiting the governor’s signature adding that government’s commitment for implementation across five thematic areas of fiscal transparency, anti-corruption, service delivery and inclusion, access to information and citizen engagement have been proposed.
While thanking the donors for the opportunity to be part of the implementation of the Anti-Corruption Rule of Law implementation programme, Ugolor said, “we appreciate the support from ROLAC team who have made it possible for ANEEJ to receive this funding. We particularly thank the European Union and British Council for funding ANEEJ work”.
