By Umar Dankano,Yola.
Oxfam in partnership with Yaharakari Foundation, Cruden,Community Development and Reproductive Health Initiative have trained relevant stakeholders on how to translate CD documents to an actionable budget in Borno and Adamawa states.
The extensive training,robust engagements and grassroots participation of the stakeholders and integration of their inputs in to new community development,CD documents took some months for them to be well equipped in achieving the desired objectives.
Oxfam Project Coordinator, Samuel Lashon while addressing participants at the trainings in the three benefiting local government areas of Biu,Kwaya kusar in Borno state and Guyuk LGA in Adamawa state stressed that the training workshop was meant to broaden the capacity of stakeholders on how to translate the CDP document into actionable budget.
Lashon explained that,they had earlier engaged stakeholders from the two states and benefiting communities in a structured,inclusive and participatory process where their needs and challenges were articulated and incorporated into the CDP document hence the imperative of the training and sustainable system that can translate the document plan into action.
Lashon emphasized that, the training will also enlighten the participants on how to captured this plan into Local govt and state budgets in addition to,building the capacity of critical stakeholders in the benefiting communities to enable them championed the transformation of this document and it’s plans into actionable budget in a sustainable way that can improve service delivery by the Government for the benefits of the citizens.
“Oxfam and its partners are happy that community voices are shaping budgets at both the state and the grassroots level as well as charting a cause for real development across rural communities especially in the implementing states”. The Coordinator stressed.
A lead consultant and resource person for the training,Dr.Olayemi Olufemi of the Vantage Energy Consultant limited reiterated that the concept is in tandem with the global best practices where needs and aspirations of the people are considered as topmost priority in issues concerning their community.
Olufemi maintained that the workshop would empower local Government officials in their ability to translate this living document into the state enactment of the budget to enable it receive parliamentary blessing and acceptance by political leadership which would lead to implementation for the benefits of the people at the grassroots.
“The training workshop which is on translation of the CDP document into an actionable budget is within the framework of modern governance”. Olufemi highlighted.
Bearing their minds on the training, some of the attendees described the meeting as “positively impactful” with the knowledge and strategies needed for participatory budget planning and development in the communities
Pro Temau Chinero as a participant from Guyuk local council confessed that, being head of departments, they have learnt a lot about community budget planning and understand how their voices can be included in Government budget to accelerate development at the grassroots.
In her response during the interview, Mrs Uria Daniel B.summarised the training as timely motivational drive as far as the grassroots is concerned noting that past administrations made budgets without consulting the people on their needs which ended up with provision of relevant projects to communities.
An official of the Adamawa state govt. Abdulaziz Shuaibu from the Ministry of Budget and Economic planning stressed that the importance of the training can never be over emphasized in bringing government close to the people.
“The training is a remarkable avenue for the local, Government officials and key stakeholders to participate in seeing that what has been documented as CDP is being translated into the budget for societal development”.Shuaibu stated.
