Bauchi State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Aminu Hassan Gamawa has reiterated that the operations of the Ministry will be guided by the cardinal principles of good governance for effective service delivery.
Aminu Gamawa was speaking while receiving in audience, officials of the International Republican Institute (IRI) who paid him an advocacy visit in his office on Tuesday stressing that the Ministry and indeed the administration of Governor Bala Mohammed would consider constructive criticisms in order to improve on government activities.
He added that the administration was committed to enhancing and improving the living conditions of the citizenry especially those at the rural areas by investing in Education, Health and Agricultural sectors.
“When we assumed office, we discovered that there are so many things that need improvement on, for example, citizens engagement in governance, lack of transparency in the way government is doing things”, The Commissioner recalled.
He added that, ” You can’t have a democratic system without engaging citizens because you are not working for yourself, you are working for them, their inputs and views are all very critical for the purpose of attaining good governance” .
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Dr Aminu Gamawa said that the Ministry is working to improve on the budget process thereby cutting down waste and increase efficiency in the budget in addition to considering the inputs of members of the society.
He informed the visitors that the Ministry was saddled with the responsibility of Budgetary process from the policy formulation, monitoring and evaluation as well as implementation.
Others he said is coordinating the affairs and activities of Non Governmental Organizations both local and international and pledged to work with officials of the Institute for effective service delivery.
The Commissioner also said that already the state government is developing its framework to find a lasting solution to the challenges affecting critical sectors of the economy and sought for the support of relevant stakeholders for the success of the administration.
Aminu Gamawa who recalled that, International Republican Institute had contributed immensely towards the advancement of democracy across the globe, applauded the team in the state for encouraging members of the State House of Assembly to prioritize the needs of their constituency.
The Team Leader who is the State Coordinator of the Institute, Hajiya Amina Bagel said that the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning being the custodian of all NGO’s in the state, the Institute deemed it necessary to seek for partnership.
Amina Bagel used the medium to request the Ministry to consider the increasing budget in the areas of the Women and Youth Empowerment, People Living with Disability, sectors of Health, Education and WASh as the Institute is working on the areas as contained in a statement by Muslim Lawal, Personal Assistant on Media to the Commissioner.