The Kogi State Government has declared a shift in its budgetary processes, stating that citizens will now play a central role in budget formulation, departing from the era where Ministries, Departments, and Agencies solely handled this responsibility.
News About Nigeria gathered that Governor Yahaya Bello made this announcement during a citizens’ engagement on the 2024 budget formulation meeting at the Edge Drive Hotel in Lokoja on Tuesday.
The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning, Asiru Idris, expressed satisfaction with the progress the state has made in the budgeting process.
He highlighted the success of stakeholder engagement in contributing to Kogi State’s top ranking in the North Central and recognition as one of the best in the budget accountability index.
Governor Bello acknowledged the citizens’ active participation in the budgeting process, emphasising their role in interrogating policies, providing alternatives, and fostering participatory governance.
Addressing the challenges faced by the global economy, including the effects of the lockdown era, the Russian-Ukraine war, fuel subsidy removal, and insecurity, Governor Bello called for collaboration to generate innovative ideas that would stimulate production and improve the lives of the people.
The governor expressed gratitude to critics of his administration’s policies, acknowledging their contribution in adding value to services provided for the people.
He said, “For the first time in the life of this administration, Kogi State came first in the North Central and one of the best in the budget accountability index. We must stay the course so that we can become better in the period ahead.
“Let me therefore commend you all for always interrogating our policies, and programmes and providing alternatives that speak to issues affecting our people.
“The fact that we gather here annually to hear from you as raw as you feel them, demonstrates the commitment of the state to engender participatory governance in the state.”
He assured the public of better years ahead, pledging that the incoming administration would continue to leverage grassroots knowledge, experience, and expertise.
