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
Hi there! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new apple iphone!
Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts!
Keep up the superb work!
I went over this internet site and I believe you have
a lot of superb information, saved to my bookmarks (:.
Here is my webpage :: essential Oils
gmb management consulting [Glory] Reviews develop count on for your service.
I have read some good stuff here. Certainly value
bookmarking for revisiting. I woonder how much effort you place to
create this kind of wonderfull informative web site.
This site truly has all the information I wanted about this subject and didn?t know who
to ask.
my blog post Bookmarks
I’m very pleased to uncover this web site. I want to to thank you for
your time for this fantastic read!! I definitely loved
every bit of it and I have you book-marked to check out new stuff in your website.
If you are going for finest contents like myself,
simply go to see this web site every day because it gives feature contents, thanks
Here is my blog health benefits of omega 3
I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you design this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you?
Plz answer back as I’m looking to design my own blog and would like to know where u got this from.
many thanks
Heya i’m for the primary time here. I came across this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out much.
I hope to present something again and aid others like you helped me.
I’ve been surfing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found
any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me.
Personally, if all site owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be a lot more useful than ever before.
%%
Feel free to visit my page :: private adhd diagnosis uk cost
It’s really a cool and useful piece of information. I’m happy that you simply shared this useful info with us.
Please stay us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
GMB does not enable supply images for profile pictures.
Also visit my blog post; amb property management
Hi would you mind letting me know which hosting company
you’re using? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different web browsers and I must say this blog
loads a lot quicker then most. Can you suggest a good
hosting provider at a reasonable price? Thanks, I appreciate it!
I�m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your sites really nice,
keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back
in the future. All the best เว็บสล็อตอันดับ 1 ของโลก
Excellent weblog here! Also your casino site a lot up very fast!
What host are you the use of? Can I get your affiliate hyperlink
in your host? I desire my site loaded up as fast as yours lol.
My programmer is trying to convince me to move to .net from PHP.
I have always disliked the idea because of the costs. But he’s tryiong none
the less. I’ve been using WordPress on a variety of websites for about a year and am concerned about switching to
another platform. I have heard fantastic things about blogengine.net.
Is there a way I can import all my wordpress posts into it?
Any kind of help would be really appreciated!
Currently it looks like Movable Type is the preferred blogging platform available right now.
(from what I’ve read) Is that what you are using on your blog?
Here is my web-site: live dealer Casinos
%%
My web-site: gambler; ydoodle.com,
GMB does not enable stock pictures for profile images.
my blog post: bookmarks
I reckon something really special in this web
site.
Feel free to surf to my website online casino gamblers
GMB Reviews develop trust fund for your service.
Have a look at my homepage … amb property services
wһoah this weblog is great i love studying your articles.
Staү up the grｅat work! You ҝnow, many
individuals are looking around for thiѕ infоrmation,
you could help tһem greatly.
Ridiculous quest there. What occurred after?
Good luck!
Certification as a Nurse Practitioner from a New York State authorized accrediting physique – American Nurses Credentialing Center ,
American Association of Nurse Practitioners , or be eligible for board certification.
Here is my homepage https://zenbun.wiki/index.php?title=User%3ANicholeVangundy
you’re truly a good webmaster. The site loading velocity is incredible.
It seems that you’re doing any unique trick. Moreover, The contents are masterpiece.
you have performed a magnificent activity in this matter!
%%
My web blog; gaming (Imperialparfum.com)
GMB does not allow supply images for profile pictures.
Look into my blog amb property services
I enjoy, lead to I discovered just what I used to be looking for.
You’ve ended my 4 day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have
a nice day. Bye
For most up-to-date news you have to pay a quick visit web and
on web I found this website as a finest site for newest updates.
Feel free to visit my web-site … health issues
My family members all the time say that I am wasting my time here at net, however I know I am getting
experience all the time by reading thes nice posts.
I am forever thought about this, regards for putting up.
Feel free to surf to my blog: essential oil health
%%
Here is my webpage; Assessments For Adhd In Adults
I was just telling my friend about that.
Hey there! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out
and say I genuinely enjoy reading your articles.
Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that deal with the same topics?
Many thanks!
For most recent information you have to visit web and on the web I found this web page as a
best site for latest updates.
Also visit my blog :: smelling cbd flower essential
Link exchange is nothing else however it is simply placing the other
person’s weblog link on your page at appropriate place and
other person will also do similar in support of you.
Also visit my web site: cbd pain killers supplements
Fine way of telling, and pleasant post to get data about
my presentation topic, which i am going to convey in university.
My web-site free poker money
%%
Review my homepage :: play casino online (Quinn)
GMB Reviews build trust fund for your organization.
Feel free to surf to my blog: amb property services
Hi there to every one, for the reason that I am truly eager of reading this web site’s post to be updated on a
regular basis. It contains good stuff.
Help with my literature dissertation hypothesis https://www.google.jo/url?q=https://buyessayreviews.com/studybay-com/
Great beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your website, how can i subscribe for a blog web site?
The account helped me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit acquainted of
this your broadcast offered bright clear concept
Feel free to visit my web site :: Sell my house fast in phoenix
Helpful info. Fortunate me I discovered your website unintentionally,
and I am stunned why this coincidence didn’t took place
in advance! I bookmarked it.
GMB does not allow supply photos for profile images.
my web-site – item467439402
gmb management software Reviews construct trust fund for your company.
Very superb information can be found on site.
Here is my web blog :: cbd pain killers products
As I website possessor I believe the content material here is rattling great , appreciate it for
your hard work. You should keep it up forever!
Best of luck.
My site – cbd pain killers
Unquestionably imagine that that you stated. Your favourite justification appeared to be at the web the simplest factor to take note of.
I say to you, I certainly get annoyed whilst people think about
issues that they just don’t understand about.
You managed to hit the nail upon the highest as neatly as outlined out the entire thing without having
side-effects , other folks can take a signal. Will likely be back to get
more. Thanks
Nice blog here! Also your website loads up fast! What host are you using?
Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my site loaded up as fast as yours lol