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
Hello to every one, the contents existing at this site are
truly awesome for people experience, well, keep up the nice work
fellows.
Here is my website; 먹튀검증사이트
ทางเราจำหน่าย kardinal stick , ks quik , ks kurve ต้องขอบอกได้เลยว่า kardinalstealththailand.com เป็นตัวแทนหลักอย่างเป็นทางการในไทย ที่ใหญ่ที่สุด และเป็นเจ้าเดียวกับ RELXTHAILAND สินค้าทุกแบรนด์
ทุกรุ่น เราได้ทำการคัดสรร บุหรี่ไฟฟ้า ที่เป็นหนึ่งในนวัตกรรม ช่วยเลิกบุหรี่ ที่มีประสิทธิดีเยี่ยม และช่วยได้จริง มาให้ลูกค้าได้เลือกใช้ โดยสินค้าทุกชิ้นของเรา สั่งตรงจากโรงงาน
Posst writing iss aso a excitement, iff yoou bee acquiainted witfh affterward yyou ccan write therwise iit iss compliicated too write.
Checkk outt mmy homepage: next
Love the website– very individual pleasant and great deals to see!
link
Yes! Finally something about lionel tate.
The ɑuthor is known by the namіng of Myles. Meter reading
is where my primary income is pгoduced by. His wife and him chose to resіde American Samoa but he needs to moѵe ƅecause of his wife and kids.
To play baseball is what her family and her experience.
He is running and maintaining a blog here: #link#
Feel free to surf to my web site – Lottery – Buapit.Ac.Th
–
It’s the best time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy.
I have read this post and if I could I want to suggest you some interesting things or tips.
Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this
article. I want to read even more things about it!
Have a look at my webpage 선시티카지노
Excellent site you have here.. It’s difficult to find good quality writing like yours these days.
I seriously appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!
Takee a moment to feel about a thriving neighborhood perhaps it iss a neighborhood, a college, or a club.
Feel free to surf tto my weeb site: simonparkes org blog (Veronique)
I used to be able to find good advice from your articles.
Hey there! This is kind of off topic but I need some help from an established blog.
Is it very hard to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal
but I can figure things out pretty fast. I’m thinking about setting up
my own but I’m not sure where to begin. Do you have any ideas or suggestions?
With thanks
Feel free to surf to my webpage :: Bookmarks
I have read so many posts concerning the blogger lovers except this
piece of writing is truly a fastidious piece of writing, keep it up.
video gratis bokep indonesiavideo bokep indonesia terbaru 2022video bokep gay indonesiavideo porn indonesiadownload video bokep gratis indonesiavideo bokep indonesia comindonesia porn videovideo bokep viral indonesiadownload video bokep indonesia terbaru
What a material of un-ambiguity work health and safety courses online
preserveness of precious know-how about unpredicted feelings.
Have you ever thought about creating an e-book or guest authoring on other websites?
I have a blog centered on the same ideas you discuss and would love
to have you share some stories/information. I know my viewers would value your
work. If you are even remotely interested, feel free to
shoot me an e mail.
my site; ตัวแทน skf ประเทศไทย
Excellent way of describing, and fastidious piece of writing to obtain information concerning my presentation subject matter,
which i am going to present in school.
You’ve got the most effective web pages.
link
Heya i’m 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 aid others like you helped me.
Feel free to visit my web page :: Michelin VP Katelyn
Luk, and A. A. Kishk, “Miniature wide-band half U-slot and half E-shaped patch antennas,” IEEE Antennas Propag.
3. Chow, Y. L., Z. N. Chen, K. F. Lee, and K.
M. Luk, A design theory on broadband patch antennas with
slot, IEEE Antennas Propag. Huynh, T. and K. F. Lee,
“Single-layer single-patch wideband microstrip antenna,”
Electron. 6. Clenet, M. and L. Shafai, “Multiple resonances and polarisation of U-slot patch antenna,” Electron. Simple options like manually checking annotations or having multiple staff
label each pattern are costly and waste effort on samples which are correct.
Furthermore, as multiple customers arrive and work together with the DTSM system simultaneously, several previously unstudied points arise.
Our focus is the usage of automobile routing heuristics within DTSM to assist
retailers handle the availability of time slots in actual time.
SA shares information between slots and utterances and solely needs a simple
structure to foretell the supporting span. Moreover, we complement the annotation of supporting span for MultiWOZ 2.1, which is the shortest span in utterances to assist
the labeled worth. The contrastive loss aims to map slot worth contextual representations to the corresponding slot description representations.
Stop by my web site … joker true wallet
Hmm is anyone else experiencing problems with the pictures
on this blog loading? I’m trying to find out if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog.
Any responses would be greatly appreciated.
You’ve got incredible information on this site.
link
Great post. I was checking continuously this blog and I am
impressed! Very helpful info particularly the last part :
) I care for such info a lot. I was looking for this certain information for a
very long time. Thank you and best of luck.
Feel free to visit my website; homepage
I just could not leave your website before suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard information an individual supply for your guests?
Is going to be back continuously in order to check out new posts.
Take a look at my web-site: regular plumbing
Thanks for the marvelous posting! I genuinely enjoyed
reading it, you happen to be a great author.I will
be sure to bookmark your blog and will come back
in the foreseeable future. I want to encourage continue your great job, have a nice day!
Feel free to surf to my blog post; onwin güncel giriş
Thanks for the auspicious writeup. It if truth be
told was once a enjoyment account it. Look complex to more introduced agreeable
from you! However, how could we keep in touch?
my homepage: Michelin VP Katelyn
Greetings, I believe your web site could possibly be having web browser compatibility problems.
When I look at your site in Safari, it looks fine but when opening in I.E., it’s got some overlapping issues.
I simply wanted to provide you with a quick heads up!
Other than that, wonderful blog!
I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought
this post was good. I don’t know who you are but certainly you are going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here.
The sketch is tasteful, your authored subject matter stylish.
nonetheless, you command get bought an impatience over that you wish be delivering the following.
unwell unquestionably come more formerly again since exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this increase. https://www.pearltrees.com/marketing404/item468503536
I simply couldn’t go away your site prior to suggesting that
I extremely loved the standard info an individual provide
for your visitors? Is gonna be again continuously to check out new posts https://forum.findukhosting.com/index.php?action=profile;area=summary;u=66927
Greetings! Very helpful advice in this particular article!
It is the little changes that will make the
most important changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
I think this is one of the most vital information for me.
And i’m glad reading your article. But should remark on few
general things, The web site style is ideal, the articles is really excellent : D.
Good job, cheers https://www.pearltrees.com/marketing404/item468503536
Incredible points. Solid arguments. Keep up the amazing effort.
Also visit my homepage; ตลับลูกปืนคืออะไร
Thanks, this site is very handy.
link
Hurrah, that’s what I was searching for, what a data!
present here at this blog, thanks admin of this website.
Thanks! It a amazing internet site!
link
What’s up to every body, it’s my first pay a
visit of this blog; this web site carries amazing and really excellent information designed for
readers.
Feel free to visit my blog post – 먹튀사이트
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about สมัคร สมาชิก betflik
ทางเข้า. Regards
You can set betting limit amounts to avoid overspending on gambling.
My blog Baccarat Hotel Nyc
Hi I am so delighted I found your blog page, I really found you
by mistake, while I was searching on Bing for something else, Nonetheless I am here now
and would just like to say thank you for a tremendous post and a all round thrilling blog (I also love the theme/design), I
don’t have time to look over it all at the minute but I have book-marked it and also added
your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back
to read more, Please do keep up the awesome b.
Your style is so unique in comparison to other
folks I have read stuff from. Many thanks for posting when you’ve got the
opportunity, Guess I will just bookmark this blog.
Visit my site; Bookmarks
It gives natural vitamins, minerals as well as healthy protein.
My web site best facial plastic surgeons in new jersey
I like this web blog very much so much great
information.
My homepage regular plumbing
thank you a good deal this excellent website is definitely official and also simple
Salaries are normally primarily based on qualifications, expertise, and skills.
Feel free to visit my web-site part-Time job
After going over a number of the blog articles
on your site, I really like your way of writing a blog.
I saved it to my bookmark website list security and risk management course online will
be checking back soon. Take a look at my website too and tell me what
you think.
Thanks very interesting blog!
Here is my web page – soccer night light
Hi there, I found your site by the use of Google while looking for a similar topic,
your web site got here up, it appears to be like good.
I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Hi there, simply become alert to your blog via Google, and
found that it’s really informative. I’m gonna be careful for brussels.
I will appreciate in case you proceed this
in future. Many other people might be benefited from your writing.
Cheers!
Hello, i read your blog from time to time and i own a similar one
and i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam feedback?
If so how do you prevent it, any plugin or anything you can advise?
I get so much lately it’s driving me crazy so any assistance is very much appreciated.
Visit my blog post: Disposable POD
I’m impressed, I must say. Rarely do I come across a blog that’s equally educative and entertaining, and let me tell you,
you’ve hit the nail on the head. The issue is something that too few people
are speaking intelligently about. I’m very happy I found this during my hunt for
something concerning this.
I enjoy what you guys are usually up too. Such clever work and coverage!
Keep up the superb works guys I’ve added you guys to
my personal blogroll.