Open Government: Expert cautions Kaduna on Open Budget

A summary of the state government's commitment to open budget

By DANGWA DANJUMA

The Kaduna State Fiscal Responsibility Law (2016), should be reviewed to guarantee citizens participation in the budget process.

Coalition of Associations for Leadership, Peace, Empowerment and Development's (CALPED) Head of Leadership, Governance and Advocacy, Yusuf Ishaku Goje who dropped the hint, maintained that "an amendment bill of the Fiscal Responsibility Law (FRL, 2016) should also be sent to the House of Assembly to capture the CDCs as an integral part of budget process". This, he said would surely, "boost citizen’s confidence in the State government and ensure we deliver on the OGP key performance indicators on open budget."

During this year’s budget formulation, CDCs generated from some of the local government areas were submitted to the Planning & Budget Commission, but no evidence to show that a single one was captured in the 2020 approved budget. 

Granted that the state has achieved two key milestones in its OGP action-plan - the establishment of office for processing of community charter in the Planning & Budget Commission, and development of a framework for citizens to effectively prioritize their needs; the desired result is yet to be achieved. This is so because the state is yet to meet some of the key action-plan’s performance indicators. They are - the number of community projects from the charters that informs the budget; and a bill on Community Development Charter (CDC) drafted and tabled before the House of Assembly."

Goje revealed: "During this year’s budget formulation, CDCs generated from some of the local government areas were submitted to the Planning & Budget Commission, but no evidence to show that a single one was captured in the 2020 approved budget. It is more worrisome as it seems we are about to miss our final opportunity to deliver on the key performance indicators, as the State Action Plan (2018-2020) cycle will end this year."

many of the heads of the Ministries Department and Agencies have limited understanding of the Open Government Partnership and the commitments in the State action-plan

He applauded the Kaduna State Government under Governor Ahmed Nasir el-Rufai for initiating reforms objectively designed to improve public financial management and public service delivery. He also appreciated the Open Government Partnership and other mechanisms developed through the State Fiscal Transparency and Sustainability instrument of the World Bank that have brought about  laws such as the Fiscal Responsibility Law, Public Procurement Law, Tax Codification and Consolidation Law, Public Finances Law, and Planning & Budget Commission Law which have been set to strengthen insitutitions deliver on the government's commitment and guarantee citizens participation in governance. The open government platform in the state have provided space for citizens to champion reforms and pursue transparency, accountability in governance, Goje recounts.

Goje however, faulted the 2021 budget call circular as on encouraging stakeholders engagement than mandating it, expressing fears that at the discretion of other Ministries and Agencies of the state government, citizens input will not be guaranteed in the 2020 budget. According to Goje, "many of the heads of the Ministries Department and Agencies have limited understanding of the Open Government Partnership and the commitments in the State action-plan"

Amongst other things, Goje recommended strongly that,"a letter be circulated to heads of MDAs mandating them to engage with relevant stakeholders in formulating their 2021 budget. The Planning & Budget Commission should see to it that they make provision in their budgets for low-cost CDCs in alignment with our fiscal reality, government priorities and response to Covid-19."

He is optimistic that these would guarantee a more meaningful consultative process as the government has tirelessly struggled to achieve in the past years and also make secure the participation of rural communities, who have always been left out in the open budget process.