Oxfam, Foundation Strengthen citizens participation for Budgeting in Borno, Adamawa
Usman Ibrahim
Yaharakari Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation (YWYEF), CODERHI and CRUDAN in collaboration with Oxfam has engaged stakeholders in Kwaya Kusar, Biu and Guyuk Local Government Areas of Borno Adamawa States in a renewed effort to strengthen citizens’ participation in budgeting and promote inclusive governance.
The engament which is under the Social and Economic Participation of Returnees, Internally Displaced Persons and Host Communities in North-East Nigeria programme, known as SEPIN SUSI.
The engagement aims to enhance social cohesion, support community development, and promote sustainable livelihoods.
Speaking at the Budget town hall meeting, Oxfam’s Country Director in Nigeria, Tijani Ahmed Hamza, said the engagement was key to building trust between government and citizens.
Hamza who was represented by Project Coordinator Samuel Lashom, noted that budgets should reflect the needs and aspirations of the people, stressing that transparency and accountability in implementation would strengthen public confidence.
“When government budgets reflect citizens’ demands and people can track how funds are spent, it builds trust between the state and the community,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to actively engage authorities, ask questions, and monitor implementation to ensure that community development plans translate into tangible results.
Chairman of Biu Local Government Area, Mai-Sule Abubakar, described the engagement as the first of its kind in the council, noting that it was designed to deepen grassroots participation in budgeting processes while promoting transparency and accountability.
He emphasised that inclusive planning and community engagement are critical to achieving sustainable development, pledging that the council would implement frameworks developed during the stakeholders’ meeting.
The chairman commended Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, for executing budgeted projects in Biu, which he said have improved the well-being of residents.
While appreciating development partners for their contributions to community development and social cohesion, Mr Abubakar expressed concern over the council’s low internally generated revenue, assuring that efforts were underway to boost revenue and strengthen financial capacity.
Similarly, the Executive Chairman of Kwaya Kusar, Hon. Dahiru Hamma Tahir (Pick II) and his counterpart in Guyuk LGA, Hon. Solomon Abafras, in separate remarks, both commended the implementing partners for bringing these reforms.
They promised to adopt the CDP framework as a reference document during the budgeting process. They highlighted that this budget town hall meeting is the first of its kind.
In his remarks, the Head of Programme, SEPIN SUSI, Ana Vinambres, represented by GIZ Borno State Field Coordinator Goni Modu, called on stakeholders to implement outcomes from the engagement to foster social cohesion and sustainable development.
She further advised the council leadership to block revenue leakages and improve its revenue base.
The Emir of Biu, Mustapha Umar-Mustapha II, represented by Betara of Biu Aliyu, commended the initiative, describing it as a step towards strengthening transparency and accountability in governance.
The project supports improving social cohesion through community development planning in 3 LGAs of the Northeast funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union.
This is implemented by Oxfam, YWYEF, CODERHI, CRUDAN, and the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to support communities across northeast Nigeria.
