Proactive Vigilance: How Citizens can hold their government accountable
Oludotun Babayemi
July 18, 2016
“Abeg, you cannot come and fix a programme that will start at 8 am on a Saturday morning, I will not be able to attend, please postpone it for another day or cancel it” responded Ijiwere to her colleagues, who wanted to visit another friend; “Let me tell you, If you want me to come for that ‘owambe’ party on Saturday, then you should let it start at 10 am” affirmed Giringori, to his friends who were planning an event for Saturday.
“Imagine, those my friend wanted to suggest 8 am as a time for that party, I totally disagreed, and told them Jigida will be aired on radio at that time, and that is the only way I can report the lack of water in Kagara” said Giringori to his elder brother – Ijiwere.
These are the kind of conversations that go on in Kagara community, with everyone looking forward to Jigida, a weekly, one – hour radio programme that allows for citizens to call – in and express their community needs, which afterwards are been documented and sent to the various local government chairmen, and State House of Representative for response and decisions to be made. That’s not all, the first 30 mins of the programme is dedicated to the Councillor of the community sharing with the community, how much and what they will be spending on in the week. This is what proactive vigilance is all about!
Although proactive vigilance or public participation in budgeting or government spending is relatively new, the evidence attesting to its impact on resource allocation and service delivery is growing. Many of the existing findings are based on the well-known Brazilian experience with participatory budgeting, established first in Porte Alegre in 1989, and now replicated in over 40 countries around the world. Nigeria, is not left out as well, as its government hopes to encourage citizen participation, with its recent commitment to joining the Open Government Partnership, a multilateral initiative that aims to secure concrete commitments from governments to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption, and harness new technologies to strengthen governance.
You might be wondering, how many – landlord associations,vigilante groups, market women associations, community development associations, we have in rural communities. A lot of them! When are we going to start having “project vigilante” in rural communities, that will become voices of several communities, because by the time you wake up tomorrow morning, the news will be agog with “one billion dollars to be released to provide water in Kagara” only to go to Kagara after one year, you will find out that Kagara has no water source or a broken water source. Quite pathetic, and that’s is the way we are – the leaders and followers.
Nevertheless, I am excited that the Story Story writers at BBC Media Action are focusing on how citizens at the local government level, can be proactively vigilant on such issues of government spending in their communities, and I recently had some hours of session brainstorming with the crew, on how citizens can become vigilant themselves, I hope all will be reflected in their popular radio drama coming up sometimes in fall. Thanks to Nkem, our Reseach Lead on government finance, who took some notes on the highlights, and I have added them below:
Citizens can at every stage of this budget cycle engage their various government, but limited participation is expected during during formulation
- There is the local government or state government budget, a document that highlights government spending and revenue which can be for a financial year, or a multiyear.
- The Budget has its on cycle starting from formulation (when Ministry, Department, Agencies, put together their budget), to enactment (when the national or state legislative arm assent to the budget), to implementation (the stage at which contractors start executing projects in your communities), and lastly, the assessment stage (where everyone assesses the implementation of the budget, to provide feedback on how the next stage should look like)
- At every stage of the budget, citizens can make noise about their plight, and join in the conversation. They can form themselves as vigilante group or association, and always knock on the door of their local government officer or Councillor.
- They can forward a freedom of information request letter to the local government chairman to request for their budget immediately it passes the enactment stage, and even ask more question like who is the contractor, what is the work plan for the project, how much is the contractor getting, and when will the project be concluded. Here is an example of a freedom of information letter if you want to write one
- Government at the local government and state government level should starting providing platforms as well, for the assesement stage. E.g. using local radio programmes like Jigida, create a referendum mechanism for your local government area for people to have their say on projects proposed for next financial year. It should not be only during elections, that citizens see chairmen of local government or governors of states canvassing for votes.
- Like I always say, the budget is not only the means by which government declare their spending, in fact 50% – 60% of what’s on it might not be relevant. The other way is to always listen to the state news on your local radio, projects will be announced at all times, especially when they are project funded by other partners, such as the federal government or international donor agencies.
Ijiwere and Giringori have decided to do away with social gatherings, and focus on becoming a vigilante for community projects in Jigida, and if you are reading this, you should be towing same way, and you should share this piece. I look forward to the final drama series on this – If you have listened to Story Story, Voices from the Market program, then you should be more expectant. See you all in Kagara town, listening to Jigida on radio!
From left, Oludotun Babayemi, Nkem and the BBC Media Action Writers
Magnificent website. A lot of useful information here.
I am sending it to a few friends ans also sharing in delicious.
And naturally, thanks for your effort!
It’s an amazing piece of writing designed for all the online users; they will get benefit from
it I am sure.
Heya just wanted to give you a quick heads up and let you know a few of the images aren’t loading correctly.
I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different browsers and both show the same results.
Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google,
and found that it’s truly informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels.
I’ll appreciate if you continue this in future. Lots of
people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
Many thanks very helpful. Will share website with my friends.
http://www.maxforlive.com/profile/user/finuttyrrsu51
If some one needs to be updated with most up-to-date technologies then he
must be visit this web site and be up to date everyday.
Hello, just wanted to tell you, I liked this blog post.
It was inspiring. Keep on posting!
Why users still use to read news papers when in this technological globe everything is
available on web?
This website definitely has all of the information I needed about
this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
Hello there! Quick question that’s completely off topic.
Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly?
My blog looks weird when viewing from my apple iphone.
I’m trying to find a template or plugin that might be able to correct this problem.
If you have any suggestions, please share. Cheers!
Thanks a lot for sharing this with all people you actually recognize what you’re speaking approximately!
Bookmarked. Kindly also discuss with my website =). We could have a link trade contract
between us
Appreciate the recommendation. Will try it out.
Hi there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it is really informative.
I am going to watch out for brussels. I will be grateful if you continue this
in future. A lot of people will be benefited from your
writing. Cheers!
Its unexpected and avant-garde silhouette reinvents expectations of style and reconfigures the possibilities for developing a compelling floral arrangement.
Have a look at my web page :: baccarat
magnificent put up, very informative. I ponder why the
opposite specialists of this sector do not understand this.
You should continue your writing. I’m confident, you
have a huge readers’ base already!
Great post. I used to be checking constantly this blog
and I am inspired! Extremely helpful info specifically
the ultimate part 🙂 I maintain such info a lot. I was looking for this certain info for a long time.
Thank you and best of luck.
It’s nearly impossible to find experienced people on this subject, however, you sound like you know what you’re talking about!
Thanks
Hey! Ꭲhiѕ is my 1st ⅽomment һere so I juѕt wantｅԀ to give а quick shout օut and sаy I tгuly enjoy reading yօur
posts. Сɑn you ѕuggest any otһеr blogs/websites/forums tһat cover tһe sɑme subjects?
Tһank you!
When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get three e-mails with the same comment.
Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Thanks a lot!
I wanted to thank you for this excellent read!! I definitely loved every bit of it.
I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post…
Thank you for another great post. The place else may just anyone get that kind of info in such
an ideal manner of writing? I have a presentation next week,
and I’m on the look for such information.
Hi, Neat post. There is a problem along with your web site in web explorer,
may check this? IE still is the market leader and a large
element of folks will omit your magnificent writing due
to this problem.
Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your site and in accession capital to assert that I get
actually enjoyed account your blog posts. Any way I will be
subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently rapidly.
Truly no matter if someone doesn’t be aware of afterward its up
to other people that they will assist, so here it
occurs.
Thanks very nice blog!
site
Thanks for another fantastic article. Where else may just anyone
get that kind of information in such a perfect
way of writing? I’ve a presentation next week, and I’m on the search for such info.
Le long métrage, toujours mis en scène par Matthew Vaughn, devait sortir dans
nos salles le 13 novembre 2019 avant d’être finalement repoussé au 12 février 2020.
A noter que Taron Egerton ne sera pas de retour dans ce 3ème opus et qu’il s’agira certainement
d’un prequel. Si on ignore encore tout de l’intrigue et du casting, on sait néanmoins qu’il s’agira d’un événement comme tous
les films du metteur en scène. Espérons qu’il en soit de même pour ce deuxième volet sur grand
écran. Le long-métrage devrait donc débarquer dans les
salles le 14 octobre 2020. Le compte-à-rebours est maintenant lancé, il reste moins d’un an et demi à Astier pour boucler
le tournage et la post-production d’un film attendu
comme le messie par des fans en attente de la fin des aventures de Roi Arthur
depuis bientôt 10 ans, le dernier épisode de la saison 6 de la série ayant
été diffusé en octobre 2009. Leur patience devrait être récompensée, et leur faim rassasiée, Astier annonce qu’il concluera la saga par
une trilogie cinéma. Troisième et dernier opus de cette nouvelle trilogie (avant la prochaine ?), Jurassic World :
le Monde d’Après viendra clore la saga en imaginant des
dinosaures dans les villes, aux côtés des humains.
Its like you read my mind! You seem to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something.
I think that you could do with some pics to drive the
message home a little bit, but other than that, this is excellent blog.
A great read. I’ll certainly be back.
What’s up, I log on to your blogs regularly.
Your writing style is witty, keep up the good work!
You are so awesome! I don’t believe I’ve truly read a single thing like this before.
So great to discover somebody with some original thoughts on this topic.
Seriously.. thanks for starting this up. This web site is one thing that is needed on the internet, someone with a bit of originality!
What i do not understood is in truth how you’re now not really
a lot more well-liked than you may be now. You are very intelligent.
You realize therefore considerably with regards to this matter,
made me individually consider it from so many numerous angles.
Its like men and women are not involved unless it’s something to do
with Lady gaga! Your individual stuffs nice. At all times care for it up!
When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox
and now each time a comment is added I get three emails
with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove people from that service?
Thanks a lot!
I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your sites really nice, keep it up!
I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back
in the future. Many thanks
My web page Pinterest
Link exchange is nothing else except it is simply placing the other person’s web site link on your
page at suitable place and other person will also do similar for you.
free Windows 7 key
Hi there everyone, it’s my first go to see at this website, and post is
in fact fruitful in support of me, keep up posting these posts.
I needed to thank you for this very good read!! I absolutely loved every little bit of it.
I have you book-marked to look at new stuff you post…
We’re a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community.
Your website offered us with valuable info to work on. You have done an impressive job and our
entire community will be grateful to you.
Hey there! This is my first visit to your
blog! We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche.
Your blog provided us useful information to work on. You have done a extraordinary job!
Currently it seems like WordPress is the top blogging platform out there right
now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you’re using on your blog?
Seriously, such a valuable online site.
http://www.wikidot.com/user:info/coytalsobas42
Good post. I learn something new and challenging on blogs
I stumbleupon every day. It will always be exciting to read
content from other writers and practice a little something from their websites.
Have you ever considered about adding a little bit
more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is fundamental and all.
But just imagine if you added some great graphics or
videos to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with
pics and clips, this site could definitely be one of the best in its field.
Terrific blog!
buy viagra online
Thank you for any other excellent post. Where else could anybody get that kind of information in such a perfect method of writing?
I have a presentation subsequent week, and
I am on the look for such information.
I constantly spent my half an hour to read this website’s posts daily along with
a cup of coffee.
you are in reality a good webmaster. The web site loading velocity is incredible.
It kind of feels that you’re doing any unique trick.
In addition, The contents are masterpiece.
you have performed a excellent job on this topic!
Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article.
I’ll make sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful info.
Thanks for the post. I will certainly return.
Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It really useful & it helped me
out much.
I hope to give something back and help others like you helped
me.
free Windows 7 key