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
thank a lot for your web site it assists a great deal.
link
Woah! I’m really enjoying the template/theme of this website.
It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s very difficult to get that
“perfect balance” between usability and visual appearance.
I must say you have done a amazing job with this.
In addition, the blog loads very quick for me on Internet explorer.
Outstanding Blog!
Its such as you learn my thoughts! You appear to understand so much about this,
like you wrote the guide in it or something. I feel that you could do with some % to pressure the message
house a little bit, however other than that, this is fantastic blog.
A fantastic read. I’ll definitely be back.
Feel free to visit my page … 먹튀검증
Estate Preparation Lawyer.
Look at my blog post types of lawyers in demand canada
Have you ever thought about publishing an e-book or guest
authoring on other sites? I have a blog based upon on the same ideas you discuss and would really like to have
you share some stories/information. I know my readers would enjoy your work.
If you are even remotely interested, feel free
to shoot me an email.
Feel free to visit my website: fitness software;
Darren,
Greetings! Quick question that’s entirely off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly?
My website looks weird when viewing from my iphone4.
I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to resolve this issue.
If you have any recommendations, please share. Thank you!
Look into my blog :: item470488378
THC isolate is pure THC gummies private label europe, without any various other cannabinoids.
Right away I am going to do my breakfast, afterward having my
breakfast coming yet again to read additional news.
Look at my web blog; free sms messages
Link exchange iss nothing else bbut it is just placing tthe other person’s weblog linnk on your page att proper place
and other person will also do same iin support of you.
web page
I don’t know if it’s just me or if everyone else encountering problems with your
website. It appears as though 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 browser because I’ve had this happen before.
Many thanks
Also visit my webpage … recover sms
This piece of writing provides clear idea designed for the new viewers of
blogging, that really how to do blogging and site-building.
Feel free to visit my homepage: june calendar
Hello! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be okay.
I’m undoubtedly enjoying your blog and look forward to new posts.
Excellent writing. Articles that have significant and informative content are a
lot more delightful.
First off, congratses on this article. This is definitely fantastic but that’s why you constantly crank
out my close friend. Wonderful articles that our company may sink our pearly whites right
into and also really most likely to work.
I enjoy this blogging site message and also you know you’re.
Blog writing may be quite frustrating for a whole lot of people because there is therefore much included
yet its own like everything else.
Terrific portion and many thanks for the mention below, wow …
How awesome is that.
Off to share this blog post right now, I desire all those brand new bloggers to view that if they don’t currently possess a program ten they carry out currently.
my homepage mentor
Нi there, I enjoy reading ɑll of your post.
I likｅ to write a little comment tto support you.
Below’s a review of the most usual types of lawyers in canada of lawyers.
There is certainly a great deal to find out about this subject.
I love all the points you’ve made.
My web site 먹튀사이트
Snapchat has one massive benefit that makes it
invaluable for so much of companies.
There are criminal and civil trial attorneys.
my page; types of lawyers that make the most money in india
Hi there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it is really informative.
I?m gonna watch out for brussels. I will appreciate if you continue this in future.
A lot of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
Feel free to surf to my web page; bulk sms sender
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make
your point. You obviously know what youre talking about, why waste your intelligence on just
posting videos to your site when you could be giving us something informative to read?
My spouse and I absolutely love your blog and find a lot of your post’s
to be precisely what I’m looking for. can you offer guest
writers to write content for you personally? I wouldn’t mind creating a post or elaborating on a number of the subjects you write in relation to here.
Again, awesome web site!
Awesome blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere?
A design like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog
stand out. Please let me know where you got your design. Bless you
Government Attorney.
my web blog :: types Of lawyers salary
Your style is really unique in comparison tto other folks I’ve read
stuff from. Thank you for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I will
just book mark this webb site.
Also visit my blog; Adiyaman Escort
Excellent blog here! Additionally your site so much up fast!
What host are you the use of? Can I get your associate hyperlink in your
host? I wish my site loaded up as fast as yours lol
hey there and thank you for your info ? I?ve certainly picked up something new from right here.
I did however expertise a few technical issues using this web
site, as I experienced to reload the web site lots of times previous to I could get it
to load correctly. I had been wondering if your hosting is OK?
Not that I’m complaining, but slow loading instances times will often affect
your placement in google and could damage your high quality
score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I am adding this
RSS to my email and can look out for much more
of your respective intriguing content. Make sure you update this again soon..
my web page :: free sms messaging
Hmm is anyone else experiencing problems with the images on this blog loading?
I’m trying to find out if its a problem on my end or
if it’s the blog. Any feed-back would be greatly
appreciated.
It’s actually a nice and helpful piece of info. I am satisfied
that you simply shared this helpful information with us.
Please keep us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
My site sms web
We also help our purchasers with financial institution deposit to file
citizenship purposes.
I wаntеd to thank you for thіs good read!! I certainly enjoyed every
bit of it. I hzve got you saved as a favoгite to look
at new ѕtuff yoᥙ post?
Legal representatives also need legal representatives.
My web page – different types of lawyers that make the most money
THC gummies for anxiety
gummies are just one of one of the most preferred THC items.
I like what you guys are up too. Such smart work and reporting!
Carry on the superb works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll.
I think it will improve the value of my website :).
Here is my website: sms marketing success
Civil Rights Legal Representative. Legal Malpractice
Attorneys.
My blog … types of lawyers and what they do uk – Dennis,
You are a very intelligent person!
My web-site … sms spy
Thank you a lot for sharing this with all folks you actually understand what you’re talking approximately!
Bookmarked. Kindly also talk over with my web site =).
We can have a link change contract among us
Asking questions are really nice thing if you are not understanding anything
totally, except this article offers pleasant understanding even.
Excellent article! We are linking to this particularly great content on our site.
Keep up the good writing.
My partner and I absolutely love your blog and
find a lot of your post’s to be precisely what I’m looking for.
can you offer guest writers to write content in your
case? I wouldn’t mind publishing a post or elaborating on some of the subjects
you write in relation to here. Again, awesome site!
Thanks designed for sharing such a pleasant thinking, piece of
writing is nice, thats why i have read it fully
Hello, i think that i saw you visited my website so i came to “return the favor”.I
am trying to find things to enhance my web site!I suppose its
ok to use some of your ideas!!
I ԁon’t know if it’s just me or if peгhaps everypne else encounterng problems with your
website. It seems like some of the tet օn your content аre rіnning
off the sⅽreen. Can someone else please comment and let mme know if thіs is hаppening to them aas weⅼl?
This might be a issue with myy web browser because I’ve had this һappen previously.
Many thanks
I’m no longer positive where you are getting your info,
but great topic. I must spend a while learning much more or understanding more.
Thanks for wonderful info I used to be looking for this information for my mission.
1. Do some research study on different THC gummies montreal items.
Very efficiently written information. Ӏt will ƅe supportive to anyⲟne whο usesas
it, including mе. Keep upp the ցood ѡork – for sure i wіll check
оut more posts.
hello there and thank you for your information –
I’ve certainly picked up anything new from right here. I did however expertise several technical issues using this
website, since I experienced to reload the site lots of times previous to I could get it to load properly.
I had been wondering if your hosting is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but slow
loading instances times will sometimes affect your placement in google and could
damage your high-quality score if advertising and
marketing with Adwords. Anyway I am adding this RSS to my
email and can look out for much more of your respective interesting content.
Make sure you update this again soon.
Well I really enjoyed studying it. This tip offered by you is
very effective for good planning.
I always spent my half an hour to read this website’s content every day along with
a cup of coffee.
Look at my web site; send sms from pc
It’s hard to come by well-informed people about this subject, but you sound like you know what you’re talking about!
Thanks
Feel free to visit my page – get her out for date through text