Experts have called for a more transparent and participatory budget system in states. This is because budget discourse over the years has limited the broader public’s input.
Experts who spoke at the launch of the ‘2018 Nigerian States Budget Transparency Report’ by the Civil Resources Development and Documentation Centre (CIRDDOC) in Abuja on Tuesday stressed that governments at all levels in Nigeria should deepen implementation of public financial management reforms which promote transparency, accountability and participation in order to improve the budget processes in states.
Ralph Ndigwe, lead researcher, CIRDDOC, said that the 2018 survey reveals that most states have failed to provide meaningful opportunities for the public to participate in the budget process, adding that budget processes over the years have limited the broader public’s input on the sources of public resources as well as how they are spent.
“Our budgets should allow for citizens to inform decisions about how government raises and allocates funds and to hold state governments accountable for implementing those decisions. Only two states, Jigawa, and Anambra out of the 36 surveyed offered participation opportunities that are considered adequate,” Ndigwe said.
Ndigwe, speaking further, said Nigerian states on average provide minimal information on the budget and procurement processes with limited spaces for public participation, adding that strategic budgeting is critical to promoting efficiency in governance
“CIRDDOC developed the Nigerian States Budget Transparency Survey (SNBTS) to analyse how transparent, open, and participatory budget and procurement processes are in Nigerian states. All 36 states are evaluated to see how much budget information is provided, spaces and mechanisms for public participation throughout the budget process, and how robust and transparent the procurement process is in the states”.
“The average score is just 17 out of 100, with 30 states having weak scores lower than 41 without opportunities for citizens’ active participation, particularly citizens from marginalized or vulnerable groups else budget systems may only serve the interests of powerful elites,” he further said.
Alex Stevens, head of governance, Conflict and Social Development, Department For International Development (DFlD) Nigeria, in his remark, stressed that it is critical that governments, citizens and civil societies are taking stock of government’s performance as budgets are the basis for public expenditure and can positively or negatively affect the lives and well-being of citizens depending on the inclusiveness and transparency of the process.
“Citizens participation in the budget process has profound implications for the longer-term growth and development of Nigeria. Citizens participation ensures that governments at all levels are focusing on the right priorities and that citizens are providing the necessary feedback that would enable governments to serve citizens better”.
“It is no longer news that the country has the highest number of poor people, the highest number of out of school children and the 2nd highest maternal death in the world. Although I would argue it is not a panacea, states must open their budget and procurement systems to Citizens to help overcome these challenges”.
Stevens speaking further said that the UK Government is committed to improving the transparency and accountability of Nigeria’s public financial management system adding that building trust between citizens and the state is critical for the development of a social contract.
Sabah Rashid, World Bank lead governance specialist, said that lack of inclusiveness, transparency and accountability in the management of public finances often leads to corruption. “We know that despite the significant resources that states generate and receive, Nigeria still faces a number of human development challenges which have global implications.”
She said, “The support and promotion of accountable government us the responsibility of all, we need to build capacity in states to promote system that enable accountability and deepen transparency”.
Cynthia Egboboh, Abuja
