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
Great article.
Quality articles or reviews is the crucial to invite
the users to visit the web site, that’s what this website is providing. https://www.deviantart.com/exercises222
At this time I am going away to do my breakfast, after having my breakfast coming yet
again to read other news.
My web site … sms spy
It’s remarkable to go to see tjis site and reading the views of
all friends concerning this paragraph, while I am also keen of getting experience.
web page
I am really enjoying the theme/design of your website.
Do you ever run into any browser compatibility issues?
A small number of my blog visitors have complained about my website not working correctly in Explorer
but looks great in Safari. Do you have any recommendations to help
fix this issue? https://www.playping.com/protein222
You really make it seem really easy along with your presentation however
I to find this matter to be really one thing which I believe I’d
by no means understand. It seems too complex and extremely
wide for me. I am having a look forward in your subsequent
publish, I’ll try to get the cling of it!
Feel free to surf to my blog post – sms scheduling
There are civil as well as criminal trial attorneys.
Here is my site; kind of lawyers make the most money
Outstanding post however , I was wondering if you could write
a litte more on this subject? I’d be very grateful
if you could elaborate a little bit more. Bless you! https://tapas.io/YWT78EWRF34SA
Right here’s an introduction of one of the most common different types of lawyers that make the most money of attorneys.
Civil Liberty Lawyer. Legal Malpractice Lawyers.
Review my web-site – item470707985
THC isolate: THC isolate is the pure kind of THC.
Here is my web blog :: item467775399
Ꭰo you have any video of that? Ӏ’d care
to find out some additional information.
Hello there! 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?
This website was… how do I say it? Relevant!!
Finally I’ve found something which helped me. Thank you!
If some one wishes expert view on the topic of blogging afterward i
propose him/her to pay a visit this website, Keep up the nice work.
Feel free to visit my web blog: Sms Text marketing
Для женщин в нашем магазине можно купить колготки (с
рисунком и красивым дизайном), носков, гольф из хлопка и полиамида – более
двухста моделей. Еще у нас возможно выбрать бесшовное белье, одежду для спорта
(леггинсы, футболки, майки, топы)
и еще удобные трикотажные комплекты для сна.
Мужчинам – большой выбор однотонных и цветных летних и зимних носков, футисов, красивых пижам для мужчин, нательного белья.
Для детей – от ста пятидесяти моделей красивых колгот, гольф и носков для юных модниц и модников,
а также красивые детские
лосины.
Наш магазин https://is.gd/UjbmzT постоянно расширяет товарный
ассортимент и одними из первых получаем новые коллекции ТМ «Giulia»,
чтобы вы могли выбрать лучшие
товары себе и своих родных!
Civil Rights Legal Representative. Legal Malpractice Attorneys.
Also visit my blog post: types of lawyers That make the most money in canada
If some one desires expert view concerning running
a blog after that i recommend him/her to pay a visit this webpage,
Keep up the good work.
Here is my website :: item470516105
รับทำ SEO ติดหน้าแรก GOOGLE อันดับ1
รับทำ SEO Google หน้าแรก บริการที่ครบวงจรและเชี่ยวชาญกว่าใคร โปรโมทเว็บไซต์ให้ติดอันดับค้นหาในหน้า1 Google [Search Engine Optimization] ราคาถูก มีบริการครบจบในเว็บเดียว ให้คำปรึกษาฟรี วิเคราะห์ฟรี รับดูแลเว็บไซต์ วิเคราะห์ปัญหาอันดับตก และเพิ่มอันดับให้ติดอันดับ
ด้วยคีย์เวิร์ดสร้างรายได้ คีย์ใหญ่ คีย์เล็ก อยู่ในตำแหน่งที่ดีที่สุดของผลการค้นหา google Yahoo Bing
เรามีทีมงานผู้เชี่ยวชาญและมีประสบการณ์สูง เอาชนะคู่แข่งในตลาดออนไลน์อย่างรวดเร็วBacklink สายเทา รับรองผลงาน ไม่ติดยินดีคืนเงิน 100%
Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any widgets I could add to my
blog that automatically tweet my newest twitter updates.
I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have some experience with something like this.
Please let me know if you run into anything.
I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates.
Legal representatives also need attorneys.
My webpage :: kind of lawyers make the most money
Wonderful beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your site, how can i subscribe for a weblog site?
The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered vibrant clear concept
It’s actually a nice and useful piece of information. I’m happy that you simply shared this helpful information with us.
Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
Here is my page send text messages online
Link exchange is nothing else but it is simply placing the other person’s weblog link on your page
at suitable place and other person will also do same for you.
This site was… how do you say it? Relevant!! Finally I’ve found something that helped me.
Many thanks!
An impressive share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a coworker who has been doing a little homework on this.
And he in fact bought me dinner simply because I discovered it for
him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!!
But yeah, thanx for spending the time to talk about this issue here on your blog.
My homepage … slot
Hello, just wanted to tell you, I enjoyed this post.
It was inspiring. Keep on posting!
Thanks to my father who informed me about this webpage, this webpage is in fact
awesome.
Estate Preparation Attorney.
Also visit my blog post item471080975
It’s really a great and helpful piece of information. I am happy that you just shared this useful
information with us. Please keep us up to date like
this. Thank you for sharing.
Feel free to surf to my web blog – flirty texting
At this time I am going to do my breakfast, once having my breakfast coming over again to read more news.
My webpage – bulks sms uses
Very good article. I will be experiencing many of these issues as well..
Feel free to visit my blog post – zepter01
Right here’s an overview of the most usual types of lawyer salary Canada
of attorneys.
Lawyers also need legal representatives.
my web-site :: Bookmarks
excellent publish, very informative. I wonder why the other experts of this sector do not notice this.
You must continue your writing. I am confident,
you have a great readers’ base already!
There are civil and criminal trial attorneys.
Here is my web page – types Of Lawyers in Court
My partner and I stumbled over here by a different page and thought I should check things out.
I like what I see so now i’m following you. Look forward to exploring your web page yet again.
I don’t know whether it’s just me or if everybody else encountering issues with your website.
It appears as if some of the text on your content are running off the screen. Can somebody else please provide feedback and
let me know if this is happening to them as well? This might be a issue with my browser because I’ve had this happen before.
Many thanks
Visit my web page; social media mobile
It’s actually a great and helpful piece of info. I’m happy that you just shared this helpful
info with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
Stop by my web site Bookmarks
At this moment I am going away to do my breakfast,
afterward having get my ex boyfriend back now breakfast coming again to
read additional news.
Estate Preparation Legal Representative.
Review my web site: All Types Of Lawyers And What They Do
I do not know if it’s just me or if perhaps everyone else experiencing problems with your blog.
It appears as if some of the written text in your content
are running off the screen. Can somebody else please comment and let me know if this
is happening to them as well? This might be a problem with my web based sms marketing browser because I’ve had this happen before.
Thank you
Excellent post! We are linking to this particularly great content on our site.
Keep up the great writing.
If you would like to take much from this piece of writing then you have to apply these techniques
to your won weblog.
certainly like your web site but you need to take a look at the spelling
on quite a few of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling issues and I find it very bothersome to inform the truth then again I will certainly come again again.
Today, I went to the beach front with my children. 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 put 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 completely off topic but I
had to tell someone!
I like what you guys are up too. Such intelligent work and reporting!
Keep up the superb works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my
blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my web
site :).
Here is my site … bulk sms providers
THC isolate is pure THC gummies for anxiety, without any various other cannabinoids.
hey there and thank you for your info ? I have definitely picked up anything new from right here.
I did however expertise several technical points using this website, since I
experienced to reload the site lots of times previous to I could
get it to load correctly. I had been wondering if your web host is OK?
Not that I’m complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will
often affect your placement in google and can damage your high quality score if advertising and marketing with Adwords.
Well I am adding this RSS to my email and can look out for much more of your respective fascinating
content. Make sure you update this again very soon..
my web blog: free sms messages
Hello there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it is really
informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels.
I will appreciate if you continue this in future.
Many people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
Here is my web blog; sms txt