By Kunle SHONUGA
Some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Thursday in Abuja on Thursday charged Nigerians to monitor implementation of the 2018 Budget to ensure proper execution and accountability.
Convener of Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG), Mr Dominic Ogakwu, made the call in Abuja.
Ogakwu said the budget needed close monitoring to ensure that its concept was actualised.
According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari has thrown the responsibility to the people to track and hold accountable, policy makers, stakeholders and Ministry, Department and Agencies (MDAs) that have been allocated these funds.
“It is our duty as Nigerians to hold government accountable. The 6,407 projects must be fully implemented comprehensively and if not, will be accounted for.
“Nigerians should use the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act to demand necessary information from government.
“We must hold government accountable for the increment made from N8.61 trillion to N9.12 trillion. Such increment should reflect accordingly on the infrastructural development through capital projects listed in the budget.
“This is particularly in the constituency projects adduced as the reason for increment in the budget figure by the National Assembly,” Ogakwu said.
He charged CSOs to carefully monitor the implementation of the budget, and commend government on parts were growth was effected and call its attention to areas that it had lapses.
On his part, Mr Wale Ajani, Convener, Emerging Political Leaders (EPL), also noted that though the Budget was delayed in its passage, it was time for immediate implementation.
Ajani said that the purpose of the budget was to affect the lives of ordinary Nigerians and that it should not be centred on a few persons and their selfish desires.
He said it was time for ample implementation that should be felt by even the common man on the street.
Ajani said analysis of the budget should be made available to interested Nigerians in other to understand in totality, what to expect.
He commended the National Assembly for its efforts, but stated that it had not been focused on the plight of the average Nigerian, who elected them.
He said the assembly had been involved in managing crisis, bickering and many unnecessary issues.
Also, Mrs Bisayo Busari, Convener, Project One Productions (POP), said that contrary to the promised of the present administration on early presentation and passage of Appropriation Bill, 2018 budget was not timely.
She said the budgeting process was not transparent and that the delay in the passage of the bill was unnecessary.
“I believe a lot of politics has been involved and that’s why it was deliberately delayed by the National Assembly. With over 6,000 projects that may be difficult to properly and comprehensively implement within its time duration, it is another way to loot the nation and deprive the people of development,’’ she said.
Busari expressed hope that Nigeria would get to a point where it would have selfless leaders and people whose focus and concerns were on the people and not on their own personal gains.
She insisted that Nigerians must follow up on the execution of the projects in the budget and hold government accountable where necessary.
