Accountability Assessment
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HUMAN ACCOUNTABILITY DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT INITIATIVES ISSN 1119-9113 Vol.1, Jan. Edition HDI COMMENCES LG BUDGET The project is running in Six Geopolitical Zones WATCH PROJECT namely: With a population of about 167million, Nigeria is the a. North Central - Abuja (Gwagwalada LGA most populous country in Africa. While Nigeria is one of b. North West - Kwara State (Ilorin West and the richest countries in terms of human, material and Ilorin East natural resources, it is paradoxically one of the poorest in c. South East - Enugu State (Nsukka and the world with at least 70 percent of the population in Nkannu West LGAs) poverty. This high level of poverty despite the country's d. South West - Lagos State (Mainland and immense resources has been severally attributed to many Eti Osa LGAs) years of military dictatorship and instability in e. South-South - Delta State (Warri South government, large scale corruption, poor macro-economic and Uvwie North LGAs) management and inadequate infrastructure amongst other Edo State ( Egor LGA and factors, extenuated by lack of openness and transparency in Oredo LGA) the machinery of government particularly in the budgetary processes. Thus, there is dire need for improvement in The project has 6 major facets which include: budget transparency and accountability and the need for a. Establishment of 12 LGA Budget Watch Groups in appropriate disclosure of the use of public resources to the the six (6) geopolitical zones of the country citizenry. comprising stakeholders to promote transparency In light of this, HDI initiated with support of Ford and accountability at the LG l e v e l b y Foundation the Local Government Budget Watch project. dialogue and information sharing on accountability and LG performance; The strategic position of local governments is primarily to b. Designation of a Budget Watch Desk with focus in deliver social services to the people at the local level. However this has not been the case in Nigeria due to a LGAs as credible source of feedback mechanism to myriad of problems which include but not limited to misuse citizens on LG priorities, citizen priorities, LG of public funds, endemic corruption at all level of capacities, budget and priority projects and LG governance, diversion of statutory allocated funds to local performance rating; government, culture of secrecy and silence, citizens apathy c. Capacity building for selected LG officials on to governance, poverty and underdevelopment. The HDI- record keeping LGA Budget Watch Project aims at tackling citizens apathy d. Media collaboration and participation as avenues to governance most especially at the local level by for public education, information and sensitizing citizens to engage with leadership and entertainment stakeholders for improved transparency and accountability e. Information dissemination and dialogue through the by interrogating the budget and budgetary process while at HDI social media platform and the LGA Budget the same time creating a platform for interaction and Watch website; and feedback on governance at the local level. f. Monitoring and Evaluation. A NEWSLETTER OF HDI-LG BUDGET WATCH PROJECT Sponsored by Ford Foundation BUDGET WATCH GROUPS SOCIAL NETWORK SITE Participants drawn from the capacity building seminars A social media platform was launched on the web. across the six geopolitical zones formed the corp of budget Http://www.hdinigeria.org/lgabudgetwatch watch groups. The group consists of Local Government using the Ushahidi platform to serve as platform officials, Community leaders, Community Development and barometer for citizen feedback on the project in Associations and students. The role of the watch group particular and local government governance includes amongst others to deliberate on: challenges in general. The platform enables the Citizen's priority projects with the LGA project to get information from within and outside Determine expenditure of its projects. project locations. Information can be share on the Consult on how to assist government at LG platform by the use of mobile phone levels 08069518000. Also a facebook page Advocate on citizen representation/ www.facebook.com/hidnigeria.com was Participation created to share comments on local government affairs. Watch groups have started meeting in all z o n e s except Delta and Abuja. HDI LGA BUDGET WATCH MANUAL In order to keep to its promise of disseminating accurate information, HDI launched a Budget Watch Manual towards the last quarter of 2011. The contents of the manual is both informative and educative. It will help to sensitize the populace on what to do in order to monitor Local Government Budgets effectively. Copies of this manual are available in our corporate Headquarters at No. 2, Iwaya Road, Onike , Yaba, Lagos. Do you know that your LG Chairman want to hear your view on his performance BRIEF HISTORY OF HDI uman Development Initiatives was established in 1997 and fully registered in 1998 as a not for Hprofit organisation. Its objectives are to build human capacity with emphasis on development; to promote human development awareness; to propagate and disseminate information on human development ideals and civic education at the grassroots and other levels; to engage in development/educational activities such as research studies, public awareness seminars, conferences, street law programmes; to investigate social malaise, prepare reports and publications; and to do all such other things as its Governing Board shall approve from time to CONTACT HDI BUDGET WATCH DESK IN YOUR LOCALITY Visit: www.hdinigeria.org, www.facebook.com/hdinigeria, www.hdinigeria.org/lgabudjetwatch, www.twitter.com/hdinigeria E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Call: 08069518000 Human Development Initiatives 08080551376 “...Initiatives make life better” HUMAN ACCOUNTABILITY DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT INITIATIVES ISSN 1119-9113 Vol. 2, Feb. Edition CAPACITY BUILDING SEMINARS apacity Building seminars aimed at encouraging Good governance, Transparency, Accountability Cand Citizen participation especially at the Local Government(LG) level which is the closest to the people through monitoring Local Government Budget most especially for development and improved governance was held in the six geopolitical zones Participants were drawn from Budget Watch Groups, Zonal Coordinators of the project, Employees and Information Officials of Local Government (LG) and Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Students of higher institutions, Community Development Associations, and the Media. THE LAGOS CONFERENCE he 3-day conference was held at the University of Lagos Consult Building between 1st - 3rd TFebruary, 2012. This was the first of its kind bringing together the zonal co-ordinators of HDI Budget Watch Project from the six geopolitical zones. The opening address was given by the Executive Director of HDI Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye in which he explained the rationale and idea behind the project to the participants. He equally emphasized the strategic position of Local Governments to deliver social services to the people at the grass-root level who constitute the most significant level of government. The conference had an impressive and a large t u r n o u t o f u n i v e r s i t y s t u d e n t s , L G A Employee/Information Officials, members of Community Development Association (CDAs) and Media Practitioners. A NEWSLETTER OF HDI-LG BUDGET WATCH PROJECT Sponsored by Ford Foundation FACILITATORS/PRESENTERS AT THE SEMINAR ROLE OF THE STAKEHOLDERS AND CITIZENS Be an active participant at the level where you can set he following personalities graced the seminar targets and KPIs and then monitor and query same; venue with their well-researched papers. Ask for Information- The FOI has made this very T possible; 1. Honourable Ademorin Kuye- Commissioner for Make possible and useful contribution; Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lagos Be an active member of a /CDA- Community State Development Association; 2. Mrs. Olabisi Ogunbesan- Director of Public Be concerned; Prosecution, Ministry of Justice, Lagos State Participante in town hall meetings, public hearings, 3. Mrs. Oluremi Jibodu- Director of Budget, Ministry of stakeholders forum etc; Finance, Lagos State Give feedback to government through the available 4. Mr. Kenneth Odusanya- Chartered Accountant and platforms; Contributor to the LGA Budget-Watch Manual Regular Payment of taxes; 5. Prof S.B.A. Oloko- Chairperson, Board of Trustees, Patronize public facilities; and HDI. Protect public facilities to avoid wastage and leakages. 6. Prof Omololu Soyombo- Member, Board of Trustees, HDI SEMINARS IN THE OTHER ZONES 7. Prof Bolaji Owasanoye- Executive Director of HDI equel to the successful organization of the and Director of Research, Nigerian Institute of Capacity Building Seminar in Lagos, the zonal Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) Sco-ordinators of HDI Budget Watch group with the assistance of HDI staff organised similar In her very informative style, Mrs. Oluremi Jibodu, seminars in the other geopolitical zones of the identified the role of stakeholders in the community, most country. The reports filed in from the states are quite impressive.This led to the establishment of the especially at the local government level. According to budget watch group in the six geopolitical zones. her, the role of the stakeholders and citizens are: Governance and accountability begins with you, make your voice heard BRIEF HISTORY OF HDI uman Development Initiatives was established in 1997 and