BY VICTOR NWEGEDE
The United States for International Development - Public Enlightenment Project (USAID-PEP) has advocated for citizen participation in the Local Government budgets in Ebonyi State.
The Executive Director of the Public Enlightenment Project, Mrs Lilian Ezenwa stated this during a one-day workshop on Ebonyi Local Government Fiscal Transparency Accountability and sustainability programme in Abakaliki, the State Capital.
Ezenwa said the inclusion of citizens in the local government budgets would boost the protection of projects cited in different communities from vandalism and bring about ownership and value for money.
She stressed the need for government to always negotiate with communities and get the social amenities needed by them in their places before citing any project in their areas to avoid waste of funds.
She explained that "the budget shows the will of the government, it shows the planned government has for the citizens and you cannot be planning for the citizens without asking them what they want. We asked local government executives to visit local Communities and asked them the type of projects they want to be done for them."
Ezenwa observed that "If local government authorities make a budget and cite a project the community don't like, the community may abandon the project and hoodlums will vandalize it. Maybe if the community needs pipe-borne water and you went and built town hall they might not use it because it is not their need."
She noted that interfacing with communities before citing projects would limit the resources to be invested in that particular project and as such give the citizens sense of belonging.
"It is good to match resources with the need of the citizens and the only way to know the need of the citizens is by engaging them and knowing what they want. If government negotiate with the citizens they will be satisfied and utilize the projects. So, it is important that government carry citizens along," she advised.
She hinted that PEP had developed a community charter of demand and has taught over 42 communities to guide them on how to make out their needs in the state.
She observed that matching the needs of the communities with the local government would foster peace, harmony, project protection, and reduction of expenses by the government and as well as reduce conflict in the community.
He recalled that the PEP had launched a mobile app called Meepeeya where citizens log in and see how many allocated projects to their various LGAs.
The Principal Secretary to the Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Emmanuel Obasi who was represented at the event by Hon. Karmani Stanley extolled the Executive Director of PEP for her good deeds in the state.
Chief Obasi who was awarded as the best stakeholder of the year pledged continued support to PEP and charged the participants of the workshop to continue contributing their quota in the development of their various communities to make life easier for everyone in the state.
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Matters - Mrs Moji Ekuma, the Executive Secretary Bureau of Public Procurement - Mrs Besty Uzoma, and Mr Moses Nwalo were among those who received honorary awards during the event.
Our correspondent gathered that the Public Enlightenment Project (PEP) covered seven local government areas in Ebonyi State including Abakaliki, Ohaukwu and Ebonyi which emerged as the best-performing LGAs in the State.
