"Active Citizen Engagement Vital for Enhanced Service Delivery in Jigawa, Says DRDI"

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Call to Action
• Study Findings
• Recommendations
• Conclusion

The Dispute Resolution and Development Initiative (DRDI) has urged for the enhancement of citizen involvement in local government budgeting processes to foster transparency, accountability, and effective service delivery in Jigawa State.

Dr. Muhammad Mustapha Yahaya, Executive Director of DRDI, made this statement in a press release to journalists in Jigawa on Saturday.

This appeal came in response to a survey report titled “Citizen Response on Participation in Local Government Budget Processes and the Impact on Service Delivery in Six LGAs in Jigawa State.”

Dr. Yahaya explained that the study, which was carried out across Mallam Madori, Hadejia, Birnin Kudu, Ringim, Kiyawa, and Gagarawa LGAs, evaluated how citizens engage in budget formulation, the challenges they encounter, and the effects of such participation on governance and service delivery.

He noted that the findings indicated that while most respondents recognized that citizens are involved in budget preparation processes, there are still gaps in technical understanding, inclusiveness, and access to information.

To tackle these challenges, Yahaya suggested raising awareness and conducting sensitization efforts, recommending workshops and seminars to educate citizens about the budget process. He proposed simplifying budget documents into local languages and making them readily available to the public through flyers, leaflets, and other information, education, and communication (IEC) materials to improve comprehension.

He advocated for the use of community-based communication channels, such as local media, social platforms, town hall meetings, and quarterly LGA budget forums to disseminate budget information.

“It is crucial to utilize technology for virtual participation by employing apps and online platforms to obtain real-time citizen feedback during discussions and decision-making,” he stated.

The Executive Director also highlighted the importance of reinforcing inclusive participation by ensuring representation from marginalized and underrepresented groups in budget consultations.

He further recommended regular capacity-building initiatives focused on budget literacy and participation, which would familiarize citizens with fiscal policies, budget tracking, and advocacy through the formation of civic groups or coalitions to coordinate grassroots involvement in budget activities.

Dr. Yahaya stressed the necessity of enhancing transparency at the community level by making budget reports easily accessible to all stakeholders while promoting open dialogues and discussions regarding budget choices and their implications.

Moreover, he proposed the creation of co-creation initiatives at the local level, enabling citizens to collaboratively determine budget priorities with local stakeholders through participatory budgeting practices.

Yahaya also called for effective feedback mechanisms via citizen-led monitoring and evaluation platforms to oversee budget implementation and service outcomes.

Eze Chidiebere Paul

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