Kaduna projects not funding by World bank – El-Rufai’s Commissioner…. As PERL sets monitoring platform
(A cross-section of participants at a one day dialogue on good governance organize by PERL in Kaduna)
//Godwin Ekosin, Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria//
A non-governmental organization known as Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL) at the weekend brought some functionaries in the appointment of Kaduna State Government and several Civil Society Organization to a roundtable to discuss governance and budget implementation in the interest of the masses.
Some of the aims of bringing the duo together is to see areas of possible partnership that can serve as catalist for the state government to deliver on its campaign promises to the people of the state as captured in the multi-year budget and to support the government’s efforts to promoting transparency and accountability.
Citizen dialogue on good governance drew stakeholders from CSO, Community-based Organizations, Professional groups, Media, Artisans as well as private sectors operating within the state.
Commissioner, Ministry of Rural and Community Development, Hajia Balarabe Aliyu Inuwa was quick to querry groups of Civil Sociery Organizations in the state for not been part of policy formulation but always quick to critize budget implemnetation.
She was of the view that Civil Society should not wait until after the budget is being passed into law, charging them to be up and as the workshop came at a time when the state is already implementing the 2017 budget.
She challenge participants to monitor ongoing projects being executed by the state government and come out with constructive criticism or recommendations or commendation.
According to her, “I hardly see any of you coming to my office to ask what we are doing in the ministry. Even though if the commissioner is not on ground, there are directors who are ever ready to answer any question that relate to our ministry.
“You people are development partners and it is expected that when you see any project going on anywhere in the state, you can go ahead look for the contractor and find out whether they are using standard materials or not. At any point you suspect any foul, raise alarm and appropriate step will be taken. Government projects are our project and we should do all within our reach to make sure quality works are done”, she requested.
Also contributing, Commissioner, Ministry of Budget and Economy Planning, Mohammed Sani Abdullahi hinge the sources of finance on the ongoing developmental projects in the state on prudence in spending of the state government and not from World Bank as been peddled in some quarters.
According to him, “I see you as civil service friendly. We need you to continue to demand the right things from us. If you need information, we are ready to supply it to you but you may need to book appointment earlier so we don’t keep you waiting for hours because of our tight schedule.
“We have the most open and transparent budget, everybody can access the budget on our website, I get frustrated at times when people tell me they’ve not seen it, email me and I will personally send it to you.
“We had plan for the state, you are very free to monitor the budget and our doors are always open for you, we’ve already recorded an unpresidented achievements which everyone can see”, added the commissioner.