Alia urges full citizens’ participation in 2024 budget planning
By Bridget Ikyado
Gov. Hyacinth Alia has advocated for strong citizens’ participation in the 2024 budget planning to pave the way for broader inputs.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Dep. Gov. Ior Ikyereve and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi on Monday.
According to the statement, the governor made the call during the Public Consultative Town Hall Meeting and Citizens’ Engagement for the preparation of the 2024 Appropriation Bill.
Alia was quoted to have said that participatory budget was very crucial as the present administration firmly believed that the people’s collective wisdom was more valuable.
He, therefore, urged Benue people to make meaningful contributions in order to enable the government to device innovative strategies and allocate available resources efficiently.
“In the future, while planning citizens’ engagement, it should begin from the rural areas then build up to the urban centres.
“In that way, civil societies and other citizens, who do not have the wherewithal to travel to Makurdi, will be able to participate at the local level.
“Our individual and collective contributions, suggestions and ideas carry the power to create a budget that fully reflects the aspirations and needs of our diverse communities,” he repotedly said.
He also said that his administration was determined to do the right thing, feel the pulse of the people and gauge their perception so that their views and expectations would be incorporated in shaping public policy.
Earlier, the Director of Budget, Dr Aondowase Nyam, said that the meeting and citizens’ engagement were convened to prepare for the 2024 budget.
Nyam said that the engagement was meant to foster greater understanding between the government and governed and give citizens the opportunity to understand how budget relates to their needs.
A UNICEF representative at the meeting, Mrs Ngozi Onuora, called for budget allocation that would cover the needs of both children and mothers in the state. (NAN)