…embarks on Budget Analysis, Monitoring Report in Ekiti
By Precious Oham
A group, Social Development Integrated Centre/Social Action has called for the abolishment of states and local government joint account to end corrupt practices by council officials.
The group made the call in Ado-Ekiti at a one-day Citizens and Government Consultative Dialogue on “Inclusive and Transparent Budgeting Processes in Nigeria’s LGAs’
In a Citizens Report on Budgets and Projects in Selected Local Governments in Ekiti State, the group equally called for reforms to strengthen financial autonomy in the LGAs.
“Addressing LGA challenges requires concerted efforts at various levels of government; including reforms to strengthen financial autonomy, review of the current constitution, anti-corruption measures, capacity-building programs, citizen engagement initiatives, and investment in infrastructure and technology.
“Comprehensive reform of the 1999 Constitution should be done in a manner that treats LGA as a matter of State law, not Federal law; thus clearly defining roles, duties, relationship between State Government, mode of election, tenure of elected officials, income generation, accountability as well as financial control.
“States and Local Government joint account should be abolished to allow autonomy for the councils, albeit with in-built mechanism to check corrupt practices by council officials.
“Government should foster civic engagement within communities across LGA; by considering citizens involvement in budget process and platforms to communicate effectively should also be established to ensure accountability and transparency among elected officials.
“Conclusively, the Executive and Legislature should demonstrate political will and commitment that will furtherance accountability and transparency.”
They also embarked on Citizens Report on Budgets and Projects in Selected Local Governments in Ekiti State.
The budget analysis in Ado-Ekiti shows that the sum of four billion, three hundred and seventy-six million, five hundred and eleven thousand, seventy-two naira (N4,376,511,072.00) was proposed as the total budget size by the Ado -Ekiti local Government Council for the 2021 fiscal year.
While monitoring project reports in Ado-Ekiti, the construction of a lockup shop was picked to boost the economic livelihood of citizens in Ado LGA.
According to the report, information regarding the approved budget was not
available as at point of monitoring, with its location at Ojumose, Ado Ekiti
The report further shows that the start date is January 2021 while the end date is November 2022 with the beneficiaries set to be market Men and women.
Other monitoring report shows that “the project has reached at least 85percent completion, though few shops were seen occupied. Effort should be increased to ensure completion of the shops to ease hardship among citizens of the area. Monitors will also follow up with Ado LGA to elicit information on the project.”