The Dispute Resolution and Development Initiative (DRDI) has called for the strengthening of citizen participation in local government budgeting processes to promote transparency, accountability, and effective service delivery in Jigawa State.
Dr Muhammad Mustapha Yahaya, Executive Director of DRDI, said this in a press statement issued to newsmen in Jigawa in Saturday.
The call followed a survey report titled "Citizen Response on Participation in Local Government Budget Processes and the Impact on Service Delivery in Six LGAs in Jigawa State"
According to Dr Yahaya, the study which was conducted across Mallam Madori, Hadejia, Birnin Kudu, Ringim, Kiyawa, and Gagarawa LGAs, assessed how citizens engage in budget formulation, the challenges they face, and the impact of such engagement on governance and service delivery.
He explained that findings from the research revealed that majority of the respondents acknowledged that citizens participate in budget preparation processes but gaps remain in technical understanding, inclusiveness, and access to information.
To address the identified challenges, Yahaya recommended awareness creation and sensitization, urging the conduct of workshops and seminars to educate citizens about the budget process and simplify budget documents into local languages and make them accessible to the public through fliers, leaflets, and other information, education, and communication (IEC) materials to enhance understanding.
He called for the deployment of community-based communication channels such as local media, social platforms, town hall meetings, and quarterly LGA budget forums to share budget information.
"It is important to leverage on technology for virtual participation using apps and online platforms for real-time citizen feedback during discussions and decision-making."
The Executive Director also emphasized the need to strengthen inclusive participation by ensuring representation from marginalized and underrepresented groups in budget consultations.
He equally advised for regular capacity building on budget literacy and participation, including acquainting citizens on fiscal policies, budget tracking, and advocacy through formation of civic groups or coalitions to coordinate grassroots participation in budget work.
Dr Yahaya emphasized the need to strengthen transparency at the community level by making budget reports easily accessible to all stakeholders as well as promoting open dialogues and discussions around budget choices and implications.
Additionally, he proposed the establishment of co-creation initiatives at the local level, allowing citizens to jointly determine budget priorities with local stakeholders through participatory budgeting practices.
Yahaya, however, called for effective feedback mechanisms through citizen-led monitoring and evaluation platforms to track budget implementation and service outcomes.