By Maxwell Effiong
A grassroot people’s empowerment Non-Governmental Organisation, Policy Alert has ended a one day workshop on budgeting process, accountability and transparency.
The workshop christened “Open Budget Deep Dive” held in the city of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria’s first capital.
Mr. Tijah Bolton-Akpan, Executive Director of Policy Alert in his address to the participants stressed on the need to getting youths involve in Government’s budgeting process and execution hence, the idea behind the training.
He said the need for both States and Federal Government to shun the idea of seeing crude oil as the only source of income cannot be over emphasized.
Explaining the statement of expected income and expenditure within a time frame which is known as budget to the participants, the facilitator Mr. Kingsley Eworo of Budget Transperancy and Accountability Network (BTAN) stressed that citizens participation in the financial planing of Government is key to a successful budget.
Eworo urged citizens to follow the money by way of getting involve in the planning and execution of the budget.
On his part, the Executive Director of We The People, Comrade Ken Henshaw who was also a resource person advocated for Government’s commitment to be accountable to the electorates by maintaining people’s friendly budget.
He urged citizens to pay attention to corruption and red-flag spots in the budget.
Citizen Agba Jalingo, CrossRiverWatch Publisher who was a celebrity guest said that budget must evolve around practical programmes, projects and plans concerning the citizens.
He added that, the 2021 Cross River State budget has as recurrence expenditure of 67% and 33% for capital expenditure which means that, so much of attention has been shifted to citizens’ welfare.
Participants were drawn from the media and CSO. Some pictures from the workshop below.
