Proactive Vigilance: How Citizens can hold their government accountable
Oludotun Babayemi
18 July 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
It’s nnot myy fіrst tiume tto paay ɑ quiick visiit thks site, i amm visiting tһіs weeb siote ddailly aand оbtain nicde infoгmation feom hsre daily.
Stoop byy mmy ebpage اخبار, elcato.ir,
bookmarked!!, I love your web site!
Online poker
Hi friends, fastidious piece of writing and nice arguments commented at this place, I am truly enjoying by these.
Hiya! I knopw thbis iis kinda offf tokpic neverthheless І’d figurd І’d ɑsk.
Woulod yoou bbe intereested inn trading linkjs orr maygbe gurst
authoring а bloog articl oor vice-versa? Мy blpog goss ovewr a loot off thhe
saame topics aas yourfs aand Ι believe wee coսld greatrly benefit from eacch other.
If yoou arre inteested feel frese tօⲟ shlot mme aan email.
Ι loook forward too hearing ffrom үou! Suoerb
blkog bby tthe ѡay!
Takke a lolk att mmy websitee … اخبار (https://bestclassic.ir)
Thanks for sharing your info. I truly appreciate your efforts and I am waiting for your further write ups thank you once again.
You should take part in a contest for one of the greatest websites on the net.
I most certainly will highly recommend this website!
I used to be able to find good advice from your content.
payday loan
I think the admin of this site is in fact working hard
for his web page, as here every data is quality based material.
my web page; construction white card gold coast
Thanks for your personal marvelous posting! I quite enjoyed reading it, you’re a great author.
I will always bookmark your blog and will come back later in life.
I want to encourage you to continue your great work, have a nice day!
Paragraph writing is also a fun, if you be familiar with then you can write if not it
is complex to write.
Can you tell us more about this? I’d care to find
out more details.
Right away I am going away to do my breakfast, later than having my breakfast coming yet again to read more news.
Good day I am so grateful I found your site, I really
found you by mistake, while I was looking on Bing for something else, Regardless I am here now and would just like to say kudos for a incredible post and a all round entertaining blog (I
also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to go through it all at the
moment but I have book-marked it and also included your RSS
feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a lot more, Please
do keep up the excellent work.
free Windows 7 key
For hottest information you have to pay a visit web and on world-wide-web I found this web site as a finest website for hottest updates.
online porn video
Right away I am going to do my breakfast, when having my breakfast coming yet again to
read other news.
It’s the best time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy.
I have read this post and if I could I want to suggest you some interesting things or suggestions.
Maybe you could write next articles referring to this
article. I desire to read even more things about it!
It’s a “reverse Robin Hood effect,” concluded one study by two
Florida professors.
my blog :: Get more info
Great website. Lots of useful info here. I am sending it to some pals ans also sharing in delicious.
And obviously, thank you in your sweat!
If some one desires expert view regarding blogging after that i
propose him/her to pay a quick visit this web site, Keep up the fastidious
job.
Online poker
Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google,
and found that it’s really informative. I am going to
watch out for brussels. I’ll appreciate if you continue this in future.
Many people will be benefited from your writing.
Cheers!
It’s great that you are getting thoughts from this paragraph as
well as from our discussion made here.
hey there and thank you for your info –I have certainly picked up anything new from right
here. I did however expertise a few technical points using this web
site, as I experienced to reload the web site lots of times previous to I coulld get iit to load
properly. I had been wondering if your web hosting iss OK?
Not that I’m complaining, but slow loading instances timess will sometimes affect your placement in google and could damage your high quality score if ads
and marketijng with Adwords. Well I’m adding this RSS to my e-mail and can look out
for much more of your respective intriguing content. Ensure hat you update this again soon.
Does your site have a contact page? I’m having a tough time locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an e-mail.
I’ve got some creative ideas for your blog you might be interested in hearing.
Either way, great blog and I look forward to seeing it
improve over time.
Here is my homepage: forex binary options wikipedia
Simply wish to say your article is as amazing. The clearness in your
post is simply nice and i could assume you are an expert on this subject.
Fine with your permission let me to grab your RSS feed to keep up to
date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and
please continue the gratifying work.
Good day! This is kind of off topic but I need some help from an established blog.
Is it tough to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal
but I can figure things out pretty quick. I’m
thinking about making my own but I’m not sure where to start.
Do you have any ideas or suggestions? With thanks
penis enlargement
Appreciate this post. Let me try it out.
My spouse аnd I stumbled оѵer һere coming from а dіfferent
ρage аnd thⲟught Ι sһould check tһings oᥙt.
I like whаt I sее ѕо now i am follⲟwing you.
Look forward to looking ɑt yoᥙr web page ɑgain.
Feel free to visit mу blog … buy generic propecia without dr prescription
Good blog post. I absolutely love this site.
Keep writing!
Awesome 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 shine. Please let me know where you got your theme.
Thank you
This design is spectacular! You certainly know how to keep a reader entertained.
Between your wit and your videos, I was almost
moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Fantastic job.
I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that,
how you presented it. Too cool!
When someone writes an paragraph he/she keeps the plan of
a user in his/her mind that how a user can know it.
Therefore that’s why this post is amazing.
Thanks!
Hey! Someone in my Facebook group shared this website with us so I came to look it over.
I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m book-marking and
will be tweeting this to my followers! Outstanding blog and wonderful design and style.
Quality posts is the important to be a focus for the people to visit the web site, that’s what this website is providing.
Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article.
I’ll make sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful info.
Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly comeback.
Hi there, You have done a fantastic job. I will certainly digg it and personally suggest
to my friends. I’m sure they will be benefited from this website.
Eyelash extensionist resume http://foerderverein-bergbad.de/wp-content/plugins/wp-js-external-link-info/redirect.php?url=https://buyessayreviews.com/essaytyper-com-review/
I’m really impressed along with your writing abilities and also with the structure in your weblog.
Is this a paid topic or did you modify iit yourself?
Either way sttay upp the excellent quality writing, it iis uncommon to peer a nice blog lik this one today..
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you
relied on the video to make your point. You clearly know what youre talking about,
why waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your weblog when you could be giving us
something enlightening to read?
My blog post Enjoydrone
Amazing blog! Do you have any tips and hints for aspiring writers?
I’m planning to start my own website soon but
I’m a little lost on everything. Would you suggest starting with
a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many choices
out there that I’m completely overwhelmed .. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Wrte moｒe, tbats aall Ι havfe too sɑy. Literally, iit
seemss aas tһough youu elied oon thee videoo tօo mak yiur point.
Youu definiely кnow whazt үoure talking ɑbout,
whyy waste yoᥙr ntelligence oon jusxt poosting viideos tto ylur ssite whyen yoou culd bee ցiving uss sokmething enlighteniing tto гead?
Feell frree tߋo visit mmy blkg :: اخبار (meclass.ir)
Wow that was strange. I just wrote an incredibly long comment but after I clicked
submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyways, just wanted
to say great blog!
Have you ever thought about writing an ebook or guest authoring on other sites?
I have a blog based on the same topics you discuss and would
love to have you share some stories/information. I know my visitors would appreciate your work.
If you are even remotely interested, feel free
to send me an e-mail.
Here is my blog post Slot jackpot
Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Thank you so much, However I am experiencing troubles with your RSS.
I don’t understand the reason why I cannot join it. Is there
anyone else getting identical RSS problems? Anybody who knows the answer will you kindly respond?
Thanks!!
Hello there, just became alert to your blog through
Google, and found that it’s truly informative. I am gonna watch out
for brussels. I’ll appreciate if you continue this in future.
Numerous people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!