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 post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am impressed!
Very helpful information particularly the last part 🙂 I care for such info
a lot. I was seeking this particular info for
a very long time. Thank you and best of luck.
Check out my web-site 바카라사이트
Very good article. I am dealing with a few of these issues as
well..
Here is my homepage … 우리카지노
Hello there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and
found that it is truly informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels.
I will appreciate if you continue this in future.
Numerous people will be benefited from your writing.
Cheers!
Woah! I’m really digging the template/theme of this blog.
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 awesome job with this.
Additionally, the blog loads extremely quick for me on Chrome.
Excellent Blog!
Here is my blog: 토토커뮤니티
It’s impressive that you are getting ideas from this article as well as from our
argument made at this place.
Also visit my blog post :: 카지노사이트
Wow, superb blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your web site
is magnificent, let alone the content!
Hello! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new iphone!
Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts!
Carry on the superb work!
My page 우리카지노
magnificent issues altogether, you just received a logo new reader.
What might you recommend about your submit that you just made
a few days ago? Any sure?
I visited several sites however the audio quality for audio
songs current at this web page is actually marvelous.
Stop by my homepage – https://dropship-business.com/
Hello, i think that i saw you visited my blog so i came to return gifts for the person who has everything choose?.I am trying
to to find issues to improve my site!I assume its adequate to use a few of your ideas!!
Great post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am impressed!
Extremely useful information specifically the last part 🙂 I care for
such info much. I was looking for this particular information for a very long time.
Thank you and best of luck.
Feel free to surf to my blog post :: http://www.webstarter.co.kr
We’re a bunch of volunteers and opening a brand new scheme in our community.
Your site offered us with helpful information to
work on. You have done an impressive process and our entire group will probably be grateful to
you.
Hey there! Someone in my Myspace group shared this site with us so I came
to take a look. I’m definitely enjoying
the information. I’m book-marking and will be tweeting this
to my followers! Excellent blog and terrific design.
Helpful information. Lucky me I discovered your site by chance, and I’m stunned
why this twist of fate did not came about earlier!
I bookmarked it.
I like what you guys tend to be up too. This type of clever work and reporting!
Keep up the great works guys I’ve added you guys to my blogroll.
Also visit my page social media
I got this web page from my buddy who told me concerning this web page and at
the moment this time I am browsing this web site and reading very informative articles or reviews at this time.
my blog post เครื่องทำปุ๋ย
you’re really a just right webmaster. The web site loading
speed is amazing. It kind of feels that you are doing any unique trick.
Also, The contents are masterpiece. you’ve done a magnificent process in this matter!
What i don’t understood is in reality how you’re no longer really
a lot more neatly-appreciated than you may be right now.
You’re so intelligent. You already know thus considerably in relation to
this subject, made me personally imagine it from numerous various
angles. Its like women and men are not involved unless it is one thing to
accomplish with Lady gaga! Your individual stuffs outstanding.
Always handle it up!
Your way of telling everything in this paragraph is genuinely good, every one be capable of simply be aware of
it, Thanks a lot.
Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Thank you,
However I am encountering difficulties with your RSS.
I don’t know the reason why I cannot join it.
Is there anybody else getting similar RSS issues?
Anybody who knows the answer can you kindly respond?
Thanks!!
Also visit my blog; http://inf-energy.com/?option=com_k2&view=itemlist&task=user&id=1000600
Excellent blog you have here but I was curious if you knew of any forums that cover
the same topics talked about in this article?
I’d really love to be a part of online community where I
can get suggestions from other experienced people that
share the same interest. If you have any recommendations,
please let me know. Thanks a lot!
My page: Viator coupon code
Does your blog have a contact page? I’m having
problems locating it but, I’d like to send you an email. I’ve got some recommendations for
your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great blog
and I look forward to seeing it expand over time.
My web page; 우리카지노
Hi, I do think this is a great web site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I am going to revisit
yet again since i have bookmarked it. Money and freedom is the
best way to change, may you be rich and continue to help others.
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 can we communicate?
Here is my homepage; Join SPN
If some one wishes to be updated with most recent technologies therefore he must
be go to see this website and be up to date daily.
Here is my web-site 카지노사이트
Great post! The post that you posted in this blog is totally brilliant! I hope you are able to come up with such a brilliant information through this post. Thank you and have a nice day!
Hello there! This is my 1st comment here so I just
wanted to give a quick shout out and tell you I
truly enjoy reading through your blog posts. Can you
suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that cover the same topics?
Thank you!
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point.
You definitely know what youre talking about,
why waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your blog
when you could be giving us something informative to read?
Feel free to visit my site :: 우리카지노
Good day! I know this is kinda off topic but I’d figured I’d ask.
Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest writing a
blog article or vice-versa? My site discusses
a lot of the same subjects as yours and I think we could greatly benefit from each other.
If you might be interested feel free to shoot me an email.
I look forward to hearing from you! Terrific blog by the way!
Good blog you’ve got here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours nowadays.
I seriously appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!
Wow! Finally I got a web site from where I can genuinely obtain helpful information concerning my study and knowledge.
Asking questions are truly pleasant thing if you are not understanding anything totally, but this piece
of writing provides nice understanding yet.
my homepage; Débouchage Woluwé Saint Lambert
Saved as a favorite, I love your web site!
Look at my website … 2023 gifts
It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d definitely donate to this excellent
blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for bookmarking
and adding your RSS feed to my Google account.
I look forward to fresh updates and will talk about this blog with my Facebook group.
Talk soon!
Hi my friend! I wish to say that this post is amazing,
great written and include approximately all vital infos.
I would like to peer more posts like this .
bookmarked!!, I like your website!
If you are going for most excellent contents like I do, simply pay
a visit this site daily since it gives quality contents, thanks
Hi there i am kavin, its my first occasion to commenting anywhere, when i read this
article i thought i could also make comment due to this sensible post.
Also visit my web page :: 카지노사이트
I am regular visitor, how are you everybody?
This post posted at this site is actually good.
I do not know whether it’s just me or if everyone else experiencing problems
with your blog. It seems like some of the written text within your content are running
off the screen. Can someone else please provide
feedback and let me know if this is happening to them too?
This may be a problem with my web browser because I’ve had
this happen previously. Thanks
Neat blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere?
A theme like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my blog stand
out. Please let me know where you got your design. Appreciate it
my page – 카지노사이트
Ahaa, its fastidious dialogue regarding this article at this place at this web site, I have read all that,
so at this time me also commenting here.
my web blog – 바카라사이트
I know this site offers quality based articles
or reviews and other information, is there any other website which gives these things in quality?
Pretty! This has been a really wonderful post. Thank you for providing these details.
Pretty component of content. I just stumbled upon your
blog and in accession capital to claim that I acquire actually enjoyed account your blog posts.
Anyway I will be subscribing to your feeds and even I fulfillment you access constantly quickly.
Right now it looks like Movable Type is the top blogging platform available right now.
(from what I’ve read) Is that what you are using on your blog?
Its not myy first time to pay a quiϲk visit this web page,
i am visiting this web paɡe dailly annd obtain good facts from heree аll
the tіme.
Genuinely when someone doesn’t understand then its
up to other visitors that they will assist, so here it takes
place.
Today, while I was at work, my sister stole my iphone and tested to see if
it can survive a forty foot drop, just so she can be a
youtube sensation. My iPad is now destroyed and she has 83 views.
I know this is totally off topic but I had to
share it with someone!