New Era Of Accountability: FG Partners CSOs To Drive Better Services

The Federal Government has called on civil society organisations (CSOs) to contribute ideas and recommendations that will help improve service delivery to Nigerians.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, made the appeal in Abuja during a citizens’ and stakeholders’ engagement forum. He urged CSOs to rely on verified data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) when assessing government policies and programmes, stressing that their support would enhance the delivery of services at the grassroots level.

In a presentation titled The Role of Citizens in the Budget Preparatory Process, the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Dr. Taminu Yakubu, reminded participants that the Constitution empowers citizens as ultimate owners of public resources. He encouraged Nigerians to take greater interest in budget implementation, noting that they should be seen not as passive observers but as co-owners of the nation’s appropriation. “A budget with citizens is the nation’s future,” he remarked.

Yakubu also clarified the concurrent implementation of the 2024 and 2025 budgets, explaining that the extension of the capital component of the 2024 appropriation law made it possible for both fiscal years to run simultaneously.

The Statistician General of the Federation and Chief Executive of the NBS, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, advised CSOs to make use of official NBS data when carrying out their work, pointing out that such information is publicly accessible and reliable.

Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Dr. Sampson Ebimaro, described the forum as a reflection of the government’s commitment to tap into the insights and expertise of civil society. According to him, the contributions of CSOs would play a crucial role in shaping the country’s development path. “We are here to listen, learn, and collaborate because we recognise that sustainable development can only be achieved when government policies are grounded in the interests of the people,” he stated.

A statement issued by the Special Assistant to the Minister on Media, Bolaji Adebiyi, listed some of the CSO leaders in attendance as Mr. Oumar Ndiaye of Ford Foundation; Mr. Kosisochukwu Umeh of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC); Mr. Eze Onyekpere, Lead Director of the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ); Ms. Alice Adebayo of BudgIT; Dr. Tijani Abdulkareem of the Social Economic Research and Development Centre (SERDC); Mr. Tunde Salmon of the Good Governance Team; and Mr. Uyi Osagie of the Central Results Delivery Unit, Office of the Special Adviser on Policy Monitoring.