Akwa Ibom: Advocacy Group Urges Quarterly Fiscal Town Halls in Local Governments

Table of Contents

1. Policy Alert's Call for Town Hall Briefings
2. Importance of the Forum
3. Advocacy Visit to Uyo LGA Chairman
4. Public Participation in Budget Process
5. Response from ALGON Chairman

Policy Alert, a civil society organization in Akwa Ibom State, has urged the state government and the Fiscal Responsibility Board to establish quarterly town hall briefings on fiscal activities across the local government areas in the state.

The CSO emphasized that such forums would facilitate performance tracking, document community priorities, and ensure that budgets align with the needs and aspirations of the citizens.

Idorenyin Eyo of Policy Alert made this appeal during an advocacy visit to the Chairman of Uyo LGA and Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state, Dr. Uwemedimo Udo, at the local government secretariat in Uyo.

This visit was part of a project titled ‘Prioritizing Communities: Enhancing Transparency and Accountability in Local Government Administration,’ which is implemented by Policy Alert with support from the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF).

Eyo remarked that public participation in the budget process is not only a legal obligation but also a democratic instrument that fosters trust, ensures accountability, and guarantees that public spending accurately reflects community priorities.

“When citizens engage in planning, budget formulation, and monitoring, the government becomes more transparent, responsive, and effective,” she stated.

“We appreciate the leadership shown by the state government in conducting budget consultations across all federal constituencies. To maintain and expand this progress, we advocate for a partnership with the Fiscal Responsibility Board to institutionalize quarterly town hall briefings in all local government areas,” she added.

In response, the ALGON chairman expressed that his administration has been committed to open governance, noting that since he took office, he has conducted budget briefings and town hall meetings to assess the needs of various communities.

Regarding the sustainability of the town hall briefings after his tenure, the chairman pledged to collaborate with the legislature to create a bylaw that would institutionalize the practice.

Eze Chidiebere Paul

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