A civil society organization, Initiative for Grassroots Advancement in Nigeria (INGRA), has applauded Kogi State House of Assembly for involving citizens in budgetary process through public hearing.
Speaking during the bi-monthly meeting of the State-Level Advocacy and Legislative Engagement Forum in Lokoja on Saturday, the Executive Director of INGRA, Hamza Aliyu, called on the State Assembly to widen the level of participation of citizens in the enactment of laws that have to do with their well-being.
Aliyu, who was represented by the project officer of INGRA, Ikechukwu Mpama, said the State-Level Advocacy and Legislative Engagement Forum had as one of its objectives, the desire to increase citizens participation in the passage of bills to reflect the aspirations of the people.
He said that the forum had carried out the project of public hearings, organising a constituency town hall meeting in each of the three senatorial districts of Kogi state and a special retreat for the state assembly lawmakers.
He noted that the Forum, which was inaugurated on November 2, 2024, had achieved more than 80 per cent of its mandate.
The bi-monthly meeting, organised by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation in collaboration with INGRA, with support from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development of the UK International Development, drew participants from sister CSOs, media and other stakeholders.
In his submission, Chairman, Kogi Non-Government Organisations Network (KONGONET), Idris Ozovehe Muraina, frowned at the passage of the supplementary budget without input from the public.
He called for the engagement of the House of Assembly to ensure citizens have a say in the passage of supplementary budgets.
Muraina called on CSOs to avail themselves of any window of opportunity for public engagement in the supplementary budget passage.
Executive Director, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflicts Resolution (CHRCR), Idris Miliki Abdul, charged CSOs in the state to be ready to work hand-in-hand with the Kogi State Assembly in organising public hearings.
“A situation where bills are passed within 24 hours was not good for the state. This is totally unacceptable. We must follow the required process for the passage of law in Kogi State.
“We should continue to advocate for public hearings, no matter the pressure from the executive arm. There is a need for follow-up because, without follow-up, sustainability will be impossible,” he stated.
