In a bid to get inputs from Citizens on their preferred mechanism in participating at the budgetary processes, the Nigeria Public Participatory Budget Advisory Group (PPBAG) has organised a One -Day session on public participatory budget mechanism for the South East Zone.
Advisory Group Members, Open Government Partnership representatives and Civil Society Organisations among other participants, gave their preferred participatory mechanism to include; Permanent dialogue mechanism, regular town hall meetings, Medium Term Expenditure Framework, consultations, Citizens involvement, and use of local media houses for dissemination of information in regards to the budget.
The One day Session on Public Participatory Budget Mechanism For South East Zone held on Wednesday, 10th August, 2022 at Nike Lake Resort, Nike, Enugu State.
In her opening remarks, the National Coordinator, Open Government Partnership, Dr. Gloria K. Ahmed revealed that the workshop was put together, through the approval of the Management of Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning (National Planning Wing), with technical support from the Global Initiative for Fiscal Transparency to get the inputs of Citizens, especially from the South East Zone, on their preferred method of participation in the budgetary process.
According to her, the Nigeria Advisory Group was inaugurated to further push for fiscal openness, transparency in the Public Sector and the fight against corruption, which forms the current Administration’s mantra.
“You were all invited in view of your Organization’s commitment in citizens’ engagement in the budgetary process, community development and fiscal openness. Report from this meeting would be transmitted to Management of Budget and National Planning and the Budget Office of the Federation, including our Partners, Global Initiative for Fiscal Transparency (GIFT)/International Budget Partnership (IBP).” She said.
The Public Participatory Budget Advisory Group is an offshoot of the Open Government Partnership, inaugurated by the Honourable Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba in June, 2020.
The Group is made up of four Government Officials and two Civil Society Organizations representatives, with technical support from Global Initiative for Fiscal Transparency (GIFT)/International Budget Partnership (IBP) to ensure citizens’ inclusion and fiscal openness in the budgetary process.