By Adeola Tukuru
An NGO, Human Development Initiative (HDI) on Tuesday called for involvement of communities in Area Councils budget preparation and implementation to ensure that priorities of the people are addressed.
Dr Dagaci Aliyu, Coordinator, North Central Zone of the NGO stated this in Gwagwalada at a workshop titled “Monitoring Local Government Budget for Development organized by HDI in its budget watch project.
He said the budget watch project of the NGO was to enlighten community members on the need to make contributions in local government budget preparations.
Aliyu said the workshop was to enhance communities’ awareness on the importance of budget and the need to be involved so as ensure judicious utilization of Area Councils’ resources.
He told the communities that the workshop became necessary following the need to promote rapid development at the local government level considering its role as the closest arm of government to the people.
“Communities are the beneficiaries of any budget and once they are involved in the preparation, they have basis to ask questions where necessary and by extension promote, transparency and accountability.
“So my concern is for the participants to know why budget, an instrument for rapid development in any community is important and tropical,” he said.
Aliyu said the NGO had commenced partnership with Area Council executives on the need to involve communities in its budget preparations.
Some of the participants who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had commended the NGO for the workshop but called for similar workshop for Area Councils’ executives as it would enhance accommodation of communities in budget preparations.
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