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
Have you ever considered creating an ebook or guest
authoring on other blogs? I have a blog based on the same ideas you discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information. I know my viewers would appreciate your work.
If you are even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an e mail.
My site; text marketing
hello there and thank you for your information ? I have definitely picked up anything new from right here.
I did however expertise some technical issues using
this site, since I experienced to reload the website lots of
times previous to I could get it to load properly.
I had been wondering if your web host is OK? Not that I’m
complaining, but slow loading instances times will sometimes 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 e-mail and could look out for a lot more of your respective fascinating content.
Make sure you update this again very soon..
Check out my web-site; item470508084
I?m impressed, I have to admit. Seldom do I encounter a blog that?s both educative and entertaining, and let me
tell you, you have hit the nail on the head. The
problem is an issue that too few people are speaking intelligently about.
I am very happy I came across this during my search for something relating to this.
My homepage item470617798
Pay Off-road! is ɑ 5-reel, 25 pay-line progressіve video
slot frߋm Real Time Gaming software. It comes with wilds, scatters, up to 12 free
spіns, and 25 winning cоmbinations. Symbols on the reｅls include PayDirt!
Sіgn, Gold Nugget, Gold Mine, Bаndit, Golⅾ Pan, Lantern, and Tremendous.
What is reaⅼⅼy a Slot Machine? Slot Machine are
an autоmatic form of gambling which need no strategy on fаuⅼt the person puⅼling the ⅼever.
Mսst put the coins in, pull thе lever and hope for
that best. Successfuⅼ is impacted by three
for a kind being displayed the actual wоrld three columns
on the eqսipment. The winning amount wiⅼl depend on оn a number of of a sort that
acquire ɑnd the oriցinal amount of coin you depoѕited.
A ցood example, three triple bars might offeг higher winnings than three single pubs.
When ѕomeone is on eveгytһing they consider a wіnning machine, they’ll often take hours,
refusing to provide it up. Sһould you be betting the odds, training needs to be agree that slot machines
have current odds of winning. That interesting since slot macһines
still put together the associateⅾ with a casino’s business.
Tһe puЬlic is very ignoгant in regards inner workings of a slot
ɗevices. Pe᧐ple are unaware within the true odds in be sure
you gaming machine and they do not discover the the probability is
truly stacked against them.
Curry from a Hurry is гeally a 5-reel, 25 payline video slot tһat
has a humorous Indian rеstaurant thｅme. In the victorian era released in November, 3 years ago.
The colorful graphicѕ include an Indian waiter and аssociated with һot curry
food. Curry in a rush accepts coins from $0.01 to $0.50, and the particular number of coins a person can can bet ρer spin is five.
Ƭhe maximum jackpot is 9,000 coins ($4,500).
Do not use the scorecard. ScorecarԀs are used by ρlayers to be able to
the result of previous fits. Players believe that
they’ll be wаnting to spot patterns and can adjust their wagering accordingly; and casinos wіlⅼ encouragе this process.
The rеason you don’t want to monitor the eating habits study previous гounds is because each roսnd
is indepеndent of the kеep going. In other words, the
round that simpⅼy fіnished doeѕ not have
a impact on the next. Casinos would as if you to imagine
that yoս can spot patterns in hopes that іf
at all pοssible give yoursｅlf falѕe confidence, raiѕe your wagｅгs and
ovеr time lose mоre money thｅse рeople.
The Mᥙ Mu World Տkill Stop Ⴝlot Machine comes by using a key ѡhich enables
you to access all of the features with the machine. Hand calculators also make
use ᧐f the swіtϲh and skills providеd to change the setting on the
machine or start a good game. The Mu Mu World Skill Stop Slot
machine game also has complete gaming manual Slot Online that has complete preciseⅼy how using and conservе the machine so that this among the the Best Slot Machines you ⅽan afford.
One thing to remember is this particulaｒ doesn’t have a puⅼl lever on along side it.
It’s a more up Casino Slot Machine up to now version of methods slot machines are played tօday.
Fairly inconspicuous so there ɑｒe a couple of you who enjօy that old classic versions, but ѡe love this one much better.
On the game you’ll find 7s, beⅼls, cars with flames out
the Ьɑck, wiⅼds, watermelօns, you need to understand
сherries. Defіnitely enouɡh sustain yօu busy for
a гeasonable tіme.
The machine has a қey, which enables customers to poѕsеss a comρlete accessibility internal things of the
devіce. If the users ѡant to change the different odds,
built proviԁed using a key or with a reset alter.
There is also a basіϲ manual to օperate the machine, and moreߋveг that,
process, which is have a vast technical suρport througһ telephone.
my web-site; เบทฟิก (Betflik-Slot.Webflow.Io)
Civil Rights Attorney. Lawful Negligence Attorneys.
my blog post types of lawyers and what they do philippines
Greetings! Very useful advice within this post!
It’s the little changes that make the largest changes.
Thanks a lot for sharing!
สวัสดีสล็อตสนุกสุดๆสุดๆกับสล็อตpgมันบาคาร่า666วัดดวงทดลอง เล่น สล็อตสล็อต เครดิตฟรีแทงคาสิโน สิงคโปร์วัดใจสล็อต
ออนไลน์วัดใจทดลองเล่น สล็อต ฟรีแทงบาคาร่า168วัดใจสล็อต เว็บ ตรง
ไม่ ผ่าน เอเย่นต์ ไม่มี ขั้น ต่ำเทรดเว็บ
สล็อตpgวัดดวงทดลอง
เล่น สล็อต โร ม่า ฟรีวัดใจโจ๊ก เกอร์ สล็อตวัดm98 สล็อตเดิมพันสล็อตxo เว็บตรงไม่ผ่านเอเย่นต์ 2021เล่นบาคาร่าsaclub7วัดดวงสล็อต xo ค่ายใหญ่วัดสล็อต โอน ผ่าน วอ เลท ไม่มีขั้นต่ำเครดิตฟรีวัดสล็อต918 kissเดิมพันได้slotomania ™ สล็อต ออนไลน์ 777จัดเว็บ888สล็อตวัดใจโปรโมชั่น สล็อต
hey there and thank you for your info ? I have definitely picked
up something new from right here. I did however expertise several technical issues using this website, as I experienced to reload the website lots
of times previous to I could get it to load correctly.
I had been wondering if your web hosting is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but
sluggish loading instances times will sometimes affect
your placement in google and can damage your high quality
score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I?m adding this RSS to my email and can look out
for much more of your respective exciting content.
Ensure that you update this again soon..
my website; item470516011
It is not my first time to visit this site, i am visiting this
website dailly and get nice data from here
all the time.
Feel free to surf to my web page; kent washington
This is really interesting, You are a very skilled blogger.
I have joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your great post.
Also, I’ve shared your website in my social networks!
Look at my web blog kent insurance company
курсы стиля и имиджа
Hi there, I found your blog via Google whilst searching for a related subject, your site came up, it looks great.
I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Hello there, just turned into alert to your weblog through Google, and located that it’s
truly informative. I’m going to watch out for brussels.
I’ll be grateful in case you continue this in future.
Numerous folks will likely be benefited from your writing.
Cheers!
Here is my web blog – tuscaloosa alabama
We’re a bunch of volunteers and starting a
brand new scheme home insurance in tuscaloosa our community.
Your website offered us with valuable information to work on. You have done a formidable task and our whole community will likely be thankful to you.
Thanks for every other fantastic article. The place else may anyone get that kind of information home insurance in kent such an ideal
manner of writing? I’ve a presentation next week, and I am at the look
for such info.
I’d like to find out more? I’d like to find out some additional information.
Feel free to visit my page: renters insurance
I am not certain where you are getting your info, but good topic.
I must spend a while learning more or working out more.
Thanks for excellent information I was looking for this information for my
mission.
Hiya! Quick question that’s completely off topic.
Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly?
My website looks weird when viewing from my iphone 4.
I’m trying to find a template or plugin that might be able to correct this problem.
If you have any recommendations, please share. Thank you!
Also visit my web-site: valentines day sms
Hello i am kavin, its my first time to commenting anyplace, when i read this article i thought i could
also make comment due to this good post.
Here is my webpage – auto insurance kent washington
You actually make it appear so easy along with your presentation however I in finding this matter
to be really something that I feel I’d never understand.
It seems too complex and very extensive for me. I am having a look ahead for your next submit, I will attempt
to get the dangle of it!
Have a look at my web-site: item470510866
Greetings! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could find a captcha plugin for my comment form?
I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having
problems finding one? Thanks a lot!
My homepage … aplikasi
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good.
I don’t know who you are but definitely you’re going to
a famous blogger if you are not already 😉 Cheers!
Here is my web blog :: kent insurance company
Currently, Many individuals prefer absolutely free On line casino slot online games for enjoyable since they have many benefits and possess a completely distinct side with the encounter for newcomers to the gambling marketplace.live draw hk This slot has 20 paylines. The RTP is around 95. Generally, this game presents exceptional prospects for winning.
You are a very capable person!
my blog fall in love
Wow that was unusual. I just wrote an incredibly long comment but after I clicked submit
my comment didn’t appear. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyway,
just wanted to say excellent blog!
Usually I don’t learn post on blogs, but I would
like to say that this write-up very compelled me to take a look at and
do so! Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thanks, very great post.
Feel free to visit my blog post – auto insurance kent washington
Hi there just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your
post seem to be running off the screen in Safari.
I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with internet browser compatibility but I
thought I’d post to let you know. The layout look great though!
Hope you get the issue resolved soon. Thanks
My web blog effective marketing
Good way of explaining, and fastidious post to take information concerning my
presentation subject matter, which i am going to
deliver in institution of higher education.
Here is my web blog renters insurance
This web site definitely has all of the information I needed about this subject and
didn?t know who to ask.
Here is my site … software tools
Howdy! This blog post couldn’t be written much better!
Going through this post reminds me of my previous roommate!
He continually kept talking about this. I am going to
forward this information to him. Pretty sure he’ll have a very good read.
Thanks for sharing!
My web site: Auto insurance
Why is it I always really feel like you do?
It’s hard to come by experienced people in this particular topic, but you seem like you know
what you’re talking about! Thanks
Also visit my homepage Send free sms text messages
Hi to every single one, it’s truly a nice for me to pay a visit this site, it includes useful Information.
Also visit my site :: seattle insurance
This article presents clear idea in favor of the new people of blogging,
that actually how to do blogging and site-building.
Here is my web site – comprehensive insurance
There’s certainly a lot to know about this subject.
I really like all of the points you made.
Feel free to visit my web blog; renters insurance
It’s hard to find experienced people for this topic,
but you seem like you know what you’re talking about!
Thanks
my web site – happy birthday sms
Estate Planning Attorney.
my page: item471059684
This post will assist the internet people for
creating new blog or even a weblog from start to end.
Here is my page; renters insurance
Wow, fantastic blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your web site is fantastic, let alone the content!
Right on my man!
I am really enjoying the theme/design of your
weblog. Do you ever run into any browser compatibility problems?
A number of my blog visitors have complained about my blog not operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Safari.
Do you have any solutions to help fix this problem?
May I simply just say what a relief to discover somebody that really knows what they are discussing online.
You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make
it important. A lot more people ought to read this and understand this side of the
story. It’s surprising you are not more popular since you
definitely have the gift.
Look at my site … aplikasi
Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement
account it. Look advanced to far added agreeable from you!
By the way, how could we communicate?
Look into my blog post … renters insurance
Greetings I am so excited I found your webpage, I really found you by error, while I was searching on Yahoo for something else, Anyhow I am here now
and would just like to say thank you for a marvelous post and a all round thrilling
blog (I also love the theme/design), I don?t have time to browse it all at the minute but I have saved it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have
time I will be back to read a great deal more, Please do keep up
the excellent b.
my web page: Romantic Messages
I think this is one of the most important information for me.
And i am glad studying your article. But should statement on some common things,
The site taste is perfect, the articles is really great :
D. Good task, cheers
Hi mates, its fantastic paragraph regarding teachingand fully explained, keep it up all
the time.
Have you ever thought about publishing an ebook or guest
authoring on other blogs? I have a blog based upon on the same subjects you discuss and would love to have
you share some stories/information. I know my visitors would
appreciate your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to send
me an e mail.
Here is my site: Bookmarks
Tremendous issues here. I am very glad to look your post.
Thanks so much and I’m having a look ahead to touch you.
Will you kindly drop me a e-mail?
Here is my web page home insurance
Please let me know if you’re looking for a author for your site.
You have some really good articles and I think I would be a good asset.
If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d love to
write some articles for your blog in exchange
for a link back to mine. Please shoot me an e-mail if interested.
Regards!
Wonderful beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your
web site, how could i subscribe for a blog website?
The account helped me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear idea
Also visit my web site :: home insurance
I like what you guys are up also. Such intelligent work and reporting!
Carry on the excellent works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll.
I think it’ll improve the value of my web site :).
my page … texting flirting Messages