By Umar Dankano Yola.
Some development partners have engaged critical stakeholders in three local government areas in the North East with a view to strengthen citizens inclusion and participation in governance
Yaharakari Women And Youth Empower ment Foundation (YWYEF),CODERHI, CRUDAN and OXFAM organized the town hall meetings in Guyuk local government area of Adamawa state and Biu and Kwaya Kusar councils in Borno states under the social and economic participat ion of returnees, Internally Displaced Persons and host communities in North East programme,(SEPIN SUSI).
The initiative, being implemented across selected LGAs in Borno and Adamawa states, aims to enhance social cohesion, support community development, and promote sustainable livelihoods.
Oxfam’s Country Director in Nigeria,Tijani Ahmed Hamza while speaking at various town hall engagements in the three local councils charged the beneficiaries to be active and punctual in the activities that concern the civic rights and interest of their communities.
Represented by the Project Coordinator, OXFAM, Mr. Samuel Lashom, said the engagement was key to building trust between government and citizens.
He noted that budgets should reflect the needs and aspirations of the people, stressing that transparency and accountability in implementation would strengthen public confidence.
“When government budgets reflect citizens’ demands and people can track how funds are spent, it builds trust between the state and the community,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to actively engage authorities, ask questions, and monitor implementation to ensure that community development plans translate into tangible results
Also speaking, the Head of Programme, SEPIN SUSI, Ana Vinambres, represented by GIZ Borno State Field Coordinator Goni Modu, called on stakeholders to implement outcomes from the engagement to foster social cohesion and sustainable development.
She further advised the council leadership to block revenue leakages and improve its revenue base.
In his response, the chairman of Guyuk LGA, Hon. Solomon Abafras commended the implementing partners for bringing these reforms and promised to adopt the CDP framework as a reference documen t during the budgeting process.
Similarly while in the domains chairmen of Biu and Kwaya Kusar local governmen t areas, of Borno state Hon.Mai-Sule Abubakar and Hon.Dahiru Hamma Tahir
highlighted that the budget town hall meeting is the first of its kind designed to deepen grassroot participation in budgeting processes while promoting transparency and accountability.
They however pledged to implement frameworks developed at the stakeholders meeting for a renewed community engagement, inclusive planning as critical pillars in achieving sustainable development.
The programme was funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union,implemented by Oxfam, YWYEF, CODERHI, CRUDAN, and the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
