Public policy dialogue: Kaduna assures LG accountability mechanism on partnership

Kaduna State Ministry of Local Government Affairs has assured the Local Government Accountability Mechanism (LGAM) of its willingness to partner with it in its forthcoming public policy dialogue on strengthening Local government Fiscal sustainability and delivery in Kaduna state.

Commissioner of the ministry, Shehu Usman Muhammed, gave the assurance when he received delegates from the LGAM in his office to seek the ministry collaboration for the success of the dialogue.

Speaking earlier, the leader of the LGAM delegation, Yusuf Goje, commended the commissioner for his commitment to transparency and accountability which he demonstrated by creating the Kaduna Education Accountability Mechanism when he was in charge of the ministry of education.

He explained that the LGAM was co-created by Ministry for Local Government Affairs and civil society partners with the support of Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL) in 2019 which will lead to a technical working group in all the 23 Local governments of the state.

Goje stressed that 50% of the 23 Local Government budgets are being informed by the Community Development Charter (CDC) while expressing concern that the actual performance in terms of budget releases is no more than 30% due to low revenue generation.

IN CASE YOU MISSED THESE FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

• ‘Officials initially offered to help but when the number of able-bodied citizens at the centre increased, they left us unattended to’
• Why Ogun Tops List Of ‘Yahoo Boys’ In Nigeria ― Governor Abiodun
• Police, Amotekun after criminals on Lagos-Ibadan expressway
• Suspected cannibal pays N500,000 for boy’s human organs, says ‘that’s my favourite meal, especially the throat’
• Court awards Nnamdi Kanu N1 billion over invasion of his home by military, asks FG to apologise

In view of the above, he said the public policy dialogue is to reflect on the successes, gaps and lessons of the current local government fiscal space and service delivery.

“To brainstorm on new strategies towards improving revenue collection and timely remittance to the local governments; to agree on collective action in strengthening transparency and community participation in the local government budget and procurement processes; To set-up a State-level Technical Working Group on Local Government Accountability Mechanism (LGAM); and to unveil Local Government Accountability Mechanism (LGAM) champions to drive the campaign for more participatory, transparent, accountable and responsive local government administration,” he said.

He further explained to the commissioner that the targeted participants are drawn from the government, members of LGAM, civil society organizations, academia and media.

In his response, the commissioner lauded the LGAM efforts in ensuring transparency, saying that Kaduna State as an open government partnership state is not only limited to the state level alone but also at the local government level.

He assured the delegation that the ministry will have all support to ensure the success of the public policy dialogue.