Notwithstanding the glitches recorded in the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the just-concluded Anambra governorship poll, Civil Society partners on electoral governance said there was no alternative to the use of technology in elections.
The partners, Adopt A Goal for Development Initiative, Youth and Students Advocates for Development Initiative (YSAD) and Eagle Post, said “these teething challenges can be overcome in future elections and as we prepare for the general election in 2023.”
This was contained in a statement signed by Ariyo-Dare Atoye, Executive Director, Adopt A Goal, Obinna Nwagbara, Chief E…
[6:22 pm, 07/11/2021] OJIEFO: LG chairmen advised on involving residents in budgetary processes
Chairmen of local governments in the country have been advised to involve residents of their council in the budgetary processes.
Speaking at the weekend during the Abuja Municipal Area Council Town Hall Meeting on Participatory Budgeting organized by ActionAid Nigeria, the chairman of the council, Hon. Abdullahi Candido said “this gives everyone in the council a sense of belonging and reduce the pressure on local government administrators.”
Candido, who disclosed that he was initially wary of allowing participatory budgeting in Abuja Municipal Area Council, said as he later found out that the process had brought him closer to the people and had made him to know that the expectations of the people from government were moderate.
He said he had also come to know that when people were made to determine what government should do for them, :they come all out to contribute their quota towards the success of government.”
He said: “Participatory budgeting gives an opportunity for the people to be involved in taking decision they want. It will reduce criticism and prioritization will come into play.”
Candido urged other councils in the country to learn from the experience of AMAC who introduced participatory budgeting two years ago and had got testimonies to give.
Also speaking on the exercise, the Director of Programme, ActionAid Nigeria, Suwaiba Dankobo said: “the exercise was part of open governance, which creates a straight and open way to administer a council.”
She said the process helped in further bonding the political leaders and the people and further assisted the government in getting needed information and support that would go a long way in delivering on their mandate.
She said though the entire process was still in its early stage and had yet to be introduced all over Nigeria, she promised that ActionAid would continue to support it and get to bring many councils into it.
At the town hall meeting in Jiwa over the weekend were people from Gwagwa, Jiwa, Gui, Gwarimpa wards of Abuja Municipal Area Council.
The process had earlier been initiated in the eight other wards of the council.
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