Capacity Building Training On State Budget Tracking And Monitoring Of Public Projects End In Calabar

By Patrick Obia

A one-day capacity building training on state budget tracking and monitoring of public projects has ended in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

The training is designed to empower citizens to monitor how public funds are allocated and utilized, verifying the implementation of budgeted projects, and demand accountability where gaps exist.

The capacity building also aimed to equip participants with practical skills to analyse state budgets, monitor government projects, document evidence, and engage duty bearers to promote transparency, accountability, and improved service delivery.

Organizer, Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI) under the Action Aid Nigeria Local Rights Program, noted that transparent and accountable public financial management is essential for effective governance and improved service delivery, and while state governments allocate substantial resources to priority sectors each year, many citizens lack the knowledge and skills to track budget implementation and monitor public projects, limiting public accountability.

Welcoming participants to the event, the Program Officer of BRCI, Mrs. Joy Adebayo, said the engagement is a brainstorming session where participants will gain practical knowledge on how to track budgets and monitor projects awarded to their various constituencies.

In his opening remark the Chairman of IFAS, Dr. Josephat Ogar said the capacity building workshop is geared to look into issues that bother on social justice and how dialogue can be employed with the government in tackling some of the issues citizens face.

He said the budget is a policy that emanates from the problems citizens have.

The retired Statistician-General of Cross River State urged citizens to observe the budgeting and implementation processes as well as tracking of approved projects.

Speaking on Introduction to Budget Tracking and Social Accountability, the Executive Secretary of Budget Transparency and Accountability Initiative Nigeria (BTAN), Mr.

Kingsley Eworo, intimated that, budget is a plan that seeks to achieve an objective it is meant for and also a critical document that helps to shape how a state or nation is run.

He inferred that budget tracking is important in following public funds from allocation to results, promoting transparency, accountability and value for money, focusing on service delivery and not just the expenditures.

Mr. Eworo noted that social accountability on the other hand is a platform where citizens hear their voice and feel they are part of the government, constructive engagement between citizens and public institutions.

In budget tracking, he noted that citizens need to get involved and should have roles to play in various budget cycles including formulation/planning, auditing, execution and enactment.

He highlighted tools for budget tracking to include budget analysis, budget performance report, project monitoring and site visits, procurement monitoring and citizens report cards and social audits.

At the same time, doing a deep dive into Budget Analysis, Kingsley said it is a set of ways used to examine and understand different aspects of the budget at their stages of budget process in comparison to the norms of good budget and its implications on the society.

He disclosed that budget analysis may be based on sectors such as health, education, agriculture, economy and others.

He enjoined citizens to engage not only in project observation but also monitoring.