BudgIT and a cohort of Civil Society Organisations, with the name ‘Joinbodi’ on Tuesday launched a report that studied the Civil Society efforts in transparency, accountability and good governance in Nigeria.
The event held in Abuja was attended by the Minister for Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Magudu, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, officials from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as well as other key partners of the cohort.
Gabriel Okeowo, the Country Director for BudgIT, stated in his opening remarks that the report aims to establish a benchmark for Nigeria’s new government in promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance.
Hadiza, in her keynote speech, noted that President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to economic reforms and governance accountability is commendable, as evidenced by recent initiatives such as the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the foreign exchange.
She added that the President’s prioritisation of key areas such as economic reform, national security, agriculture, infrastructure, and social investment signals a proactive approach to addressing the country’s challenges.
Hadiza said:
“I do not need to remind us about two of the most difficult, yet important, decisions President Tinubu has made to sanitise the Nigerian economy since he assumed office. With the removal of fuel subsidy, we have started to see significant improvement in the government’s revenues and increased international confidence in the Nigerian economy.”
According to her, the establishment of the Central Delivery Coordinating Unit (CDCU) underscores the government’s commitment to monitoring and evaluating the performance of ministries and agencies.
The Minister for Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Magudu, launched the book. He said his interaction with CSOs revealed how power is split within a democratic setting.
The report presents several key findings, including behavioural changes among government officials that resulted from the intervention of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).
The report also highlights the role of CSOs in the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act in 2011, their engagement in the cost of governance, and their contribution to technology-driven governance, among other important factors.
Other organizations that partnered with Budgit include the Center for Information, Technology, and Development (CITAD), Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), HEDA Resource Centre, Yar’Adua Foundation, Public and Private Development Centre, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPPA), Network of Women with Disabilities, and Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI).
The Joinbodi Cohort was supported by the MacArthur Foundation.