Skip to main content

COVID-19, Public Spending and Accountability in Kaduna State.


Hand washing in compliance with Covid-19 protocols
 


By YUSUF GOJE

The way Kaduna State government is handling the Covid-19 pandemic can be faulted on other grounds but not on the pro-activeness and decisiveness with which it is confronting the resultant public health crisis and its socio-economic consequences. Objectively speaking, the decisions, many of which  are controversial, remain the most viable alternative for any serious government to take in emergencies like this. After all, unusual times require unusual measures. 

The Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-rufai, on various public platforms has disclosed his readiness to face any resultant consequences of such decisions. Now that the government is getting a hold on how to contain the spread of the pandemic, even though the numbers keep rising, it is time for citizens to begin to also ask the right questions. This is necessary because the global economy is contracting at an accelerated pace. Sub-nationals, like Kaduna state (in a mono-economy like Nigeria) who are not immune to the shocks, are bound to feel the pressure due to plummeting revenue base.

More attention now needs to be paid as to how the available lean resources are being expended by the State government especially on covd-19 interventions. Particular focus should be on whether: resources are being allocated to strategic priorities, is there value for money in the emergency service delivery, and adherence to the principles of transparency and accountability in the process. In this regard, public tracking and demand for accountability in the procurement/contracting and service delivery process remains paramount. 

The State government has proactively disclosed information on the total amount of donations and  allocations to palliatives since the outbreak; however, procurement information on covid-19 interventions is yet to be made public in line with the Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS). This may not be unconnected with the provision of section 6, Emergency Procurement, of the Infectious Disease (Protection) Regulations 2020. It states that, “ *the Governor shall have power to dispense with the strict compliance of all or any part of the Kaduna State Public Procurement Law of 2016 or any other Law for the procurement of any materials, items or services relating to Covid-19 pandemic during the period of lockdown”* .

In simple terms, the Governor has been empowered to carry-out procurement without sufficient adherence to the due process and procedures. Even though it is good intentioned, it is more prone to abuse. Granted that emergency procurement is among the rapid decisions needed to effectively respond to the pandemic; however, it is still important that the abridged procedure adopted is made public, open and transparent. 

The lockdown has now been substantially lifted; it is critical and expedient that residents of the state initiate an intensive advocacy campaign to demand for proper accountability of public spending. This will not only unravel wastages and corruption where they exist, but also build citizen's trust, which is necessary if we are to win the fight against the ravaging pandemic. From our search and engagement with the Kaduna State Public Procurement Authority (KADPPA), it appears that information on the emergency procurements being carried-out is not readily available.

 This is worrisome in the light of the administration’s global recognition and commendations for being reform-driven. Indeed, it is a true test of the administration’s commitment to ongoing reform initiatives like the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability & Sustainability (SFTAS) program.

In view of the above, it is best practce that the government make public the details of the contingency budget being used to fund the emergency procurements, amendments made to the annual plan of public procurement due to Covid-19, information on pre-tender communication with suppliers (especially urgent procurement), details of the contractors/suppliers, items purchased (for instance, the prices and quantities of face masks, ventilators, respirators, medicines etc), information on the process of contract implementation, quarterly report on the procurement done and information on steps taken in order to prevent or respond to the cases of price-gouging.

 As regards the palliative distribution, information on the items procured (outside those donated), cost of logistics, allowances paid and total list of beneficiaries should equally be subjected to public scrutiny. This will increase citizen’s approval rating of the administration if carried-out in line with the principles of transparency and accountability.

Goje is Head of Leadership, Governance & Advocacy of the Coalition of Associations for Leadership, Peace, Empowerment & Development (CALPED)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

'Terrorists are all over, not only Southern Kaduna'

-Governor Nasir el-Rufai el-Rufai addressing Journalists in Hausa after a security meeting on Southern Kaduna By DANGWA DANJUMA G overnor Ahmed Nasir el-Rufai has admitted that terrorists are everywhere in Kaduna state, not only in the troubled Southern Kaduna, disclosing that miscreants have taken to the social media space to promote what he called disturbing and further aggravating the worsening situation situation with religious and ethnic colouration. Speaking to newsmen in Hausa, after a meeting with security officials, el-Rufai said that miscreants from Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and outside Nigeria are trying to insinuate that the Southern Kaduna killings is ethnic and religious even going as far as asking people to take the law into their hands. While maintaining that these people would be brought to book, he tasked traditional leaders, religious leaders and political office holders in the state to speak the truth about the happenings as failing to do so wo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Community Participation in Governance: Kaduna APGA Councilor breaks new grounds

 A cross-section of constituents of Sabon Tasha ward, listening with rapt attention to resource persons at the event S trengthening community and rural participation in governance has been identified as the right step towards providing the much needed social infrastructure at the local government level in Kaduna state. This is the standpoint of Hon. Kogi James Ganaka, currently holding sway as the Councilor of Sabon Tasha, one of biggest wards in Kaduna state. Ganaka, who came into light during the last local government elections in the state, when he decamped from the Peoples' Democratic Party(PDP) to the All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA), to clinch the seat, following the advice of his teeming supporters, is very passionate about improving the lot of his people.  Remarked one of his constituents: "We are very proud of him. He is the only councilor that I know who has established a constituency office in the entire jurisdiction. He is determined to provide div...
Post a Comment
Read more

NEWS FEATURE: Governor el-Rufai and the Sanctity of the Ballot

el-Rufai: Voting at his polling unit  BY NASIRU JAGABA  F irst of all, let me start by congratulating the Citizens of Kaduna State, for violence free election in the local government polls. The peaceful conduct of the citizens in Kaduna despite the happenings that had shown clearly the desperation of persons in the corridor of power to manipulate, overturn the result refused to give in to the chaos but rather responded with all sense of maturity and confidence in the sanctity of the ballot. Had Kaduna responded in similar desperation as shown by the institutional riggers, perhaps curfew would have been slammed in several areas which would have created the perfect cover for the malpractices to happen. The hate speeches and incitement from the top government officials in Kaduna state government did not end on the platforms for the campaigns alone but went further to reflect in the exercise that held. There are several accounts going round about thugs accompanyin...
1 comment
Read more

Low turn out greets Kaduna LG Elections

Voters on queue to vote at a polling unit in the city centre D elay in the arrival of voter officials and materials as well as voter apathy adversely affected  the just concluded Kaduna Local Government elections. Cubinks' team of reporters, gathered that within the city centre most polling units did not commence voting until about 1:00pm. Voters who spoke to our Correspondent  blamed the poor turn out on poor publicity of the  voting process, leaving significant information shrouded in secrecy. Some of the challenges encountered by voters and officials, according to party agents include delay in activating the electronic voter  machines, absence of displayed register for voters.  Fundamentally however, remarked Kalu Ndukwe a Supervisor of one of the parties at Barnawa Clinic polling unit: "the processes is unlike the conventional elections, there is no secrecy in the ballot. Some ignorant voters are even bei...
Post a Comment
Read more

Lere agog over unprecedented people-oriented projects

Council Chairman(middle), flanked by dignitaries at the event N o fewer than 108 projects and programs in the Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna state are currently at 98% completion stages, a development citizens of the area attribute to the Council Chairman's determination and desire to put the people first, no matter whose ox is gored. Chairman of the council, Alhaji Abubakar Buba, who dropped the hint at the 2019 Quarterly Budget Performance Review town hall meeting with stakeholders in Saminaka, Kaduna state, commended the Kaduna state governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai for aggressively creating the desired environment  for societal growth - by initiating strategic and people-focused governance reforms at both state and local government levels. "Upon my assumption of office one year ago, we immediately keyed into the governance reform initiatives of the state government which were all geared towards putting the people first. We met on ground various far r...
Post a Comment
Read more