The Yobe State Government and Network for Civil Society Organisations (NCSO) have tasked stakeholders on the state’s budget proposals for 2022. The Stakeholders’ dialogue was to enhance citizens’ participation in the budgetary process and priorities for effective implementation of Budget 2022. While declaring the dialogue open Monday at the Cultural Centre, Damaturu, the Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning, Mohammed Garba Gagiyo disclosed: “It’s an opportunity to help the State Government prioritize the budgetary requirements of the people before proposing to the House of Assembly.”
“We’re to accord priority to the needs of people in next year’s budget,” he said. Governor Mai Mala Buni, who was represented by his Deputy, Idi Barde Gubana said that the implementation of policies and programmes were to improve people’s living conditions. “In pursuit of budgetary objectives, this innovative dialogue in our democratic history can bring together various inputs from CSOs,” he said. According to him, the CSOs include trade unions, community based organisations and other associations of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and Cattle Breeders Associations. He said that the associations and organisations shape their destiny by incorporating their inputs into next year’s budget proposals.
“This will facilitate provision of basic infrastructure that can attract more investors,” he said; adding that the investors could harness the rich agricultural and livestock resources that generate more job opportunities for the unemployed youths. He said that the Stakeholders’ budget dialogue; will enlighten the people and voice out their yearnings into the 2022 budget proposals. “This is Buni’s bottom to top policy approach in meeting the electorates’ aspirations and yearnings,” he said. NCSO’s Executive Director, Comrade Baba Ahmed said that the stakeholders’ budget dialogue could enhance transparency budget process and implementation. He noted that it could ensure transparency and accountability; while implementing next year’s budget proposals.
