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
My brother suggested I might like this web site. He was entirely right.
This post truly made my day. You can not imagine just how much time I
had spent for this info! Thanks!
Take a look at my website … เว็บบทความ
THC gummies kaya gummies are one of the most
popular THC products.
We also help our purchasers with financial
institution deposit to file citizenship purposes.
Sports betting, football betting, cricket betting, euroleague football betting,
aviator games, aviator games money – first deposit bonus
up to 500 euros.Sign up bonus
Hi! Do you know if they make any plugins to protect against hackers?
I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on. Any recommendations?
My web-site this contact form
order levitra 20mg sale [url=https://levitrab.store/]levitra 60 mg brand[/url] cost vardenafil 20mg
I’m amazed, I have to admit. Rarely do I come across a blog that’s equally educative and amusing, and without
a doubt, you’ve hit the nail on the head.
The issue is something not enough people are speaking intelligently about.
Now i’m very happy that I found this during my hunt for something concerning this.
play online slots for real money scatter slots naked free
slots for fun instant slots games play now
I think the admin of this site is really working hard in favor of his web
site, since here every information is quality based
stuff.
Water the plant when the topsoil (3-4 inch) in pot feels dry to touch.
Do not overwater the plant.
Water thoroughly in the summer and reduce watering in winter and rainy season.
Howdy! I simply want to offer you a huge thumbs up for the great information you have got right here
on this post. I am coming back to your site for more soon.
My blog post: Binary Options
Excellent beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your site, how could i subscribe for a blog site?
The account helped me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit acquainted of
this your broadcast offered bright clear concept
hi!,I love your wrikting very so much! proportion we communicate extra approximately your post onn
AOL? I need a specialist on this space to unravel my
problem. May be that’s you! Having a look forward to see you.
web page
Hi my loved one! I want to say that this post is awesome, great written and include approximately all significant
infos. I would like to look extra posts like this .
Hey there! I’ve been following your site for some time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out
from Houston Texas! Just wanted to tell
you keep up the excellent work!
Today, I went to the beachfront with my kids. I found a
sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter
and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.”
She placed the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and
it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back!
LoL I know this is entirely off topic but I had to tell someone!
Aw, this was an exceptionally good post.
Spending some time and actual effort to create a great article… but what can I say… I hesitate a
lot and never seem to get nearly anything done.
It is appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy.
I’ve read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you some interesting things or suggestions.
Maybe you can write next articles referring to
this article. I desire to read more things about it!
5 Judi Online Yang Butuh Bettor Kenali Serta Permainkan
Judi yang hendak bettor permainkan di web judi online ialah suatu alternative terbaik apabila dipikir secara
seperti kenyataan. Sebab semua permainan judi yang gunakan basic online itu pada intinya pasti
akan memberikan keuntungan anda. Apa keuntungan yang bisa bettor peroleh saat putuskan berganti untuk bermain betting
lewat dalam jaringan ?.Jawabnya banyak, karena situs judi online tawarkan banyak tipe keuntungan untuk bettor.
thc Gummies quebec isolate: THC
isolate is the pure kind of THC.
What’s up, Ӏ check your blogs on a regulɑr basis.
Your stⲟry-telling ѕѕtyle is awesome, keep
up the good work!
THC gummies france isolate: THC isolate is the pure kind of THC.
And also the series of various THC gummies white label europe items.
Link exchange is nothing else except it is simply placing the other
person’s web site link on your page at appropriate place and
other person will also do same in support of you.
penis enlargement
Not to mention the variety of different THC items.
Also visit my blog post :: item463759556
Hi there this is kinda of off topic but I was wanting to know if blogs use
WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML.
I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding know-how so I wanted to
get guidance from someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!
1. Do some research on different THC gummies for anxiety items.
It’s amazing to go to see this web page and reading the views of all colleagues concerning this piece
of writing, while I am also zealous of getting know-how.
great post, verу informative. Ӏ’m wondering ѡhy the opposite experts օf tһiѕ
sector do not understand tһіs. Yoᥙ ѕhould proceed уour writing.
I’m ѕure, у᧐u hаve where to buy motrin without a prescription huɡe readers’ base ɑlready!
Fine way of telling, and fastidious piece of writing to
get information concerning my presentation focus, which
i am going to deliver in college.
THC gummies are just one of one of the most popular THC products.
my blog :: item465675708
I am really impressed with your writing skills as well as with
the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself?
Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing,
it is rare to see a nice blog like this one these days.
What a stuff of un-ambiguity and preserveness of valuable familiarity about
unpredicted feelings.
Hello! I know this is kinda off topic however I’d figured I’d ask.
Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest writing a blog
post or vice-versa? My website covers a lot of the same subjects as yours and I feel we could greatly benefit from each other.
If you happen to be interested feel free to shoot me an email.
I look forward to hearing from you! Wonderful blog by the way!
1. Do some study on numerous THC products.
My blog post Bookmarks
Now I am going to do my breakfast, after having my breakfast coming over again to read further news.
Hey There. I discovered your blog the use off msn. This is
a really smartly written article. I will bee sure to bookmark it and come back to read extra of your useful info.
Thank you for the post. I will definitely comeback.
homepage
lesbian dating may be actuslly a stimulating and also enjoyable encounter.
It’s a fzntastic method to comee across brand-new folks as
well as find out concerning various kinds oof relationships.
lesbian dating may likewise be actually tough, especially if you’re not exacxtly
sure where to start. But do not fret – there are actuallky a lot of information available
to hellp you browse the globe of lesbian dating.
There aree actually online courting websites, lesbian bars as well aas nightclubs,
lesbian celebrations, and also lesbian self-help group.
Therefore if you prepare to start, lesbian courfting could be a
wonderfu way to associate with various other lesbians as well as have some fun en route.
You will have to take a qualification test just before receiving hired.
Check out my website … forum.spaind.Ru
THC isolate: THC isolate is the pure kind of THC gummies quebec.
THC isolate: THC isolate is the pure type of THC gummies france.
THC gummies shark tank
isolate: THC isolate is the pure kind of THC.
THC isolate is pure THC, without any various other cannabinoids.
My webpage :: Bookmarks
THC gummies quebec isolate is pure THC, without
various other cannabinoids.
Long earlier than any of the other apps on this checklist, Zagat guides in print had been a trusted source for finding an amazing restaurant,
especially for those who travel. There’s only one person I can think
of who possesses a singular mixture of patriotism, intellect, likeability, and a confirmed monitor file of getting stuff carried out under robust circumstances
(snakes, Nazis, “dangerous dates”). But let’s go one step additional past local
food to road meals. And with this template, you may be one step forward of your opponents!
A implausible recreation to go on adventures by yourself, one I can simply advocate personally.
The game is free except gamers need to do away with the persistent and
lengthy adverts that interrupt recreation play by paying for an ad-free membership.
Amazon has greater than 140,000 titles in its lending library that you would be able to access without cost.
That makes it much more like some form of D&D board recreation and i cannot wait to try that new function out myself.
This isn’t Steam Remote Play, that is a native built-in sharing function and also you can even purchase more of these particular slots so others don’t
have to buy the complete sport. That enables you
to boost the storage capacity of the machine to 36 megabytes, more
than twice that of the basic iPad.
Stop by my web blog https://xn--12cfb0ek1dmds0cd1b9bxa1g1lxa.com/
%%
Feel free to visit my site – Best Adhd Medication For Adults
If you would like to obtain much from this post then you have to apply such
strategies to your won blog.
THC gummies france
isolate is pure THC, without other cannabinoids.
For hottest news you have to pay a quick visit internet and on the web I found this
web site as a finest website for most recent updates.