By Ogar Monday
Budget Transparency and Accountability Initiative – Nigeria (BTAN), a nonprofit that works around budget transparency and open governance, has asked the Cross River State House of Assembly to do its due diligence with the recent 2023 budget presented to the house by the State Governor, Ben Ayade.
The group who recently paid a courtesy visit to the Assembly reiterated the importance of the second arm of government acting as a watchdog over the executive, and it should scrutinize the budget proposal and ensure that the final copy shows a true reflection of the wishes of the people of the state.
“There is no end to lending a voice to ensuring best practices in the public finance management landscape.
“The legislative arm plays a key role in ensuring best practices are carried out through passing enabling laws, oversight, representation of their constituents in not only fiscal matters but also governance generally.” Kingsley Eworo, State Coordinator of BTAN said.
On the budget, BTAN raised issues around the absence of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Financial Stability Plan (MTEF/FSP); the lack of allocation for the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, The posting of zero returns by some revenue-generating MDAs in the state, The high dependence on FAAC despite the huge agricultural and mineral potentials that are within the State, the dwindling aids and grants to the State even with all the development partners available in the country and region.
The group also proposed solutions to some of the issues they had raised.
Responding, Mr. Jerry Akabisong, the Clerk of the House promised to share the concerns raised by BTAN with the leadership of the assembly, while encouraging the group to ensure that they make their contributions at the public hearing of the year’s budget.
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