Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Youth Leaders and Traditional Rulers in Plateau Northern Zone have lauded the government of Plateau State through the State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning for the involvement of the citizens in the budgeting process, saying it is a total departure from what was obtainable in the past where the input of the public was not sought when budgets were prepared thereby making it impossible for the critical needs of the people to be captured and implemented.

The commendation came during the stakeholders Town Hall Meeting on citizens’ engagement in the State’s budgeting process for Plateau North Senatorial Zone with the theme “Citizens Participation/engagement in the State’s Budget Process” organized by the Plateau State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in conjunction with the Minsitry of Finance which held Thursday 30^th June, 2022 at the Joshua Dariye Hall Plateau State Polytechnic, Jos Campus.

The engagement brought together Leaders of Civil Society Organizations, Youth Leaders, Traditional Leaders, Religious Leaders, Political stalwarts and other critical stakeholders across Plateau North.

The Permanent Secretary Plateau State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Lamba Peter Bot said the engagement is significant and provided a platform for interface between the government and the citizens in the budget preparation process. He said government is doing that to enhance citizens’ participation and greater involvement in the governance process by considering their inputs in budget preparation.

According to him, the cardinal objective of the engagement is to strengthen transparency, accountability and sustainability of government programmes and activities as well as to gain government confidence in implementation.

He said the citizens are the focal point of government budgeting policy and programmes and that informed the need for their involvement at the preparatory stage considering their valuable inputs which he said is key in the process because they play critical role in the budget.

He hinted that the State’s budget process now starts with the collection of proposals from the citizens; all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and Civil Society Organizations to have a people-oriented budget.

“2023 citizen budget has to comply with a recent guideline that put emphasis on what is known as local governance” he said.

He further disclosed that despite the limited resources, the State government remained responsive to its statutory responsibilities to the Citizens of the State and will continue to do so.

He applauded the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Simon Lalong for continuing the projects he inherited and for the new projects he initiated across the 17 Local Government Areas which according to him are critical and have direct bearing on the lives of the citizens.

“The desire of government is to prepare a modest and realistic budget that will add value to the State not mere reflection of figure”

“I want to commend the rescue team of this administration under the able leadership of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Plateau State and Chairman Northern Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Barr. Simon Bako Lalong for his tireless effort to transform and effect positive changes in the lives of the people despite all challenges. His leadership style of continuity and inclusiveness is highly commendable. Worthy of emulation also is the relative peace he struggles for in the State. I therefore, charge all citizens to live in peace with one another irrespective of tribal or religious background.” He concluded.

Representative of the CSOs, Mr. Obadiah Afans lauded the State government for involving the citizens and the Civil Society Organizations in the budgeting process. He said that will give the citizens a sense of belonging in the governance process and increase the level of public trust on government. He said the Open-Government Partnership (OGP) has increased government and Civil Society Cooperation. He said the initiative has made participatory budget possible which in turn will translate to people-oriented budget.

The participants commended the State Government for carrying the citizens along in the budgeting and governance process. They called on the government to come up with better measures to jerk the internally generated revenue (IGR), tackled insecurity and address the issue of long trucks parking indiscriminately along major highways in the State.

The Dagwom Rwey Jos South His Royal Highest Da Nga Dangyang, His Royal Highness Da Paul Tadi the Gwom Rwey (District Head) Heipang and the Acting Gwom Rwey of Foron District graced the occasion and commended the initiative saying it has provided the avenue for citizens to transmit their critical needs to government.

The event also featured the presentation of the need reports of the Local Government Areas in the Zone.

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CSOs, Stakeholders and Others Laud Plateau Ministry of Budget for Involving the Public in Budgeting Process