An advocacy group, Civil Resource Development and development Centre, has called on government at all levels to ensure transparent budget preparation and implementation process being the most powerful instrument of government policy formulation and execution.
The group made the call in Lafia at the North Central zonal launch showcasing the outcome of budget transparency survey to government directors of budget.
In his presentation, Prof. Ishmael Ogboru of the University of Jos, posited that shrouding budgetary or financial operations in secrecy is a fertile ground on which the evil of corruption and embezzlement thrives.
“Corruption tends to flourish when standards are lax or poorly defined, regulatory institutions and enforcement practices weak and government policies generate rent” he regretted, noting that governments in the North Central states are irked with varying responsibilities which hinder successful implementation of budgets for the benefit of the populace.
in his presentation, Prof. A. C Abimiku, observed that although most budgetary documents are are produced, none is publicly made available, in most cases even on request.
The financial expert also called on the National Assembly and states Houses of Assembly do not open sufficient avenues for public participation during public hearing and budget approval processes.
He said fear of victimization by political office holders was one of the reasons responsible for why civil servants have imposed self-censorship on themselves when it comes to giving out information, and called on government to ensure that citizens are able to track how government is expending their commonwealth.
In his keynote address earlier, Engnr. Ralph Ndigwe, appealed to government to work towards making the public own the budgetary planning and implementation process.
