LG Chairmen Advised to Involve Residents in Budgetary Processes

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The chairmen of local governments in the country have been advised to involve residents of their council in the budgetary processes.

Speaking at the weekend during the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Town Hall Meeting on Participatory Budgeting that was organised by ActionAid Nigeria, the Chairman of AMAC, Hon. Abdullahi Candido, said that this would give everyone in the council a sense of belonging and reduce the pressure on local government administrators.

Candido, who disclosed that he was initially wary of allowing participatory budgeting in AMAC, said as he later found out that the process has brought him closer to the people and have made him to know that the expectations of the people from government are moderate.

He said he has also come to know that when people are made to determine what government should do for them, they come all out to contribute their quota towards the success of government.

He said: “Participatory budgeting gives an opportunity for the people to be involved in taking decision they want. It will reduce criticism and prioritization will come into play.”

Candido urged other councils in the country to learn from the experience of AMAC who introduced participatory budgeting two years ago and has got testimonies to give.

Also speaking on the exercise, the Director of Programme, ActionAid Nigeria, Ms. Suwaiba Dankobo, said: “The exercise was part of open governance, which creates a straight and open way to administer a council.”

Dankobo said that the process helped to bond the political leaders and the people and further assist the government in getting needed information and support that would go a long way in delivering on their mandate.

She said that though the entire process is still in its early stage and still yet to be introduced all over Nigeria, she promised that ActionAid would continue to support it and get to bring many councils into it.

At the town hall meeting in Jiwa over the weekend were people from Gwagwa, Jiwa, Gui, Gwarimpa wards of AMAC, the process has earlier been initiated in the eight other wards of the council.