Group advocates citizens’ participation in LG budgeting process in Gombe

Civil Society Organisations in Gombe State under the aegis of Gombe Open Government Partnership (OGP) Non-State Actors has expressed concern over ‘poor participation of citizens in local government budgeting process in the state’.

The group made the expression on Thursday when the team led by Mr Bachama Yusuf paid an advocacy visit to the state ministry for local government and chieftaincy affairs.

He said despite the progress made so far at the state and federal levels, there is no awareness and participation of the citizens in the local government budgeting process, advocating that there should be transparency in the drafting and implementation of the budgets at the local government levels in states, Gombe inclusive.

Bachama also advised that budgets at the local governments should prioritise people’s-nominated projects so that they can impact positively on lives.

“It is a known fact that the government closest to the people is the local government. However, there has been a growing concern and perception on the conduct of the local government election, not only in Gombe State, but the nation at large.

“This has caused an alarming erosion of trust in the local government election processes among most people, thereby causing voter apathy, and loss of interest by varying actors.”, he stated.

According to him, Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a multi-stakeholder global best practice mechanism involving government and the civil society working to make government more open, accountable, and responsive to the citizens, with co-creation as the underlying principle.

Responding on behalf of the ministry, the commissioner Abdulkadir Waziri hailed the team saying with partnership and collaboration from the public especially stakeholders, government would execute more people’s oriented policies.

He added that to strengthen local governments in the state and enhance good governance and performance, the state government is conducting local governments election end of this month.