Ali Rabiu Ali
PERL or Partnership to engage reform and learn in Jigawa has trained over 70 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on State Fiscal Transparency and Accountability Sustainability (SFTAS) program and how to score pre-requisites for the DLI’s and win World Bank grants for the state.
SFTAS focuses on strengthening the fiscal sustainability, transparency and accountability of Nigerian states. The program is comprised of the Fiscal Sustainability Plan (FSP) actions to be implemented by state governments and the Nigerian Open Government Partnership (OGP) National Action Plan (NAP) actions at the state-level.
DLIs are Disbursement-linked indicators under the four key result areas. There are nine DLIs under the four key result areas and each of the DLIs has specific annual disbursement-linked results to be achieved by states for each year of the Program.
PERL Kano/Jigawa states team leader, Isa Surajo said the objectives of the workshop is to share learning and sensitize citizens on their role in promoting budget transparency and openness through the SFTAS program in Jigawa state.
“It is also to strengthen and promote citizens use of available information and tools for advocacy to hold government to account on SFTAS implementation especially those that open the governance space for effective participation of citizens.
“I encourage you to always participate in all the budget processes, procedures and promote transparency and accountability in the state,” he added.
Stallion Times reports that the CSOs were selected from the twenty-seven (27) local government areas of the state.
Tari Wills is National Program Officer, SFTAS and OGP. She said the workshop was designed to enlighten CSOs on how to participate in the SFTAS Program.
On his part, the civil society specialist, Nigeria OGP and facilitator of the event, Abayomi Akinbo said Federal Government provides technical support to implement different reforms that will improve transparency and accountability around public fund.
“CSOs in the state should continue to do what they have been doing during budget preparation, implementation, monitoring and tracking, and with the SFTAS Program to ensure transparency and accountability,” Akinbo advised.
A participant and Director Admin and Finance, Popular Theater and Health Education Association (POTHE), Lawan Ahmad said he was amazed about the program, adding that the training on transparency and accountability on budget is helpful looking at the importance of citizens participation around the area.
Jigawa is one of the states that have won the SFTAS grant in Nigeria.
PERL is public-sector accountability and governance program, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the UK.
