Alhaji Muhammad Mustapha Yahaya, the Executive Director of Dispute Resolution and Development Initiative (DRDI), has called on citizens to take an active role in monitoring how local governments spend public funds.
He made the appeal during a capacity building session organised by DRDI to enlighten stakeholders on local government budgeting and public participation.
Alhaji Yahaya said the training became necessary following recent reforms that now allow local governments to receive their funds directly.
According to him, this new arrangement places a greater responsibility on citizens to ensure transparency and accountability.
“The objective of this programme is to sensitize stakeholders and the general public on their role in local government budgeting,” he explained.
“Citizens now have the right to demand explanations from their local government chairmen on how funds are used.”
He noted that DRDI has spent the last three years campaigning for full local government autonomy covering financial, political and administrative control and is pleased to see the progress made at both federal and state levels.
“Thank God, this campaign has led us to where we are today. The federal government has given local governments their full autonomy by sending funds directly to their accounts,” he said.
“Even states like Kano have committed to allowing them to spend their money as budgeted.”
He stressed that community involvement is key to preventing misuse of public resources.
He urged residents to put their eyes on local government spending to ensure funds bring real development to grassroots communities.
He expressed optimism that with proper oversight and public participation, local governments will regain their lost glory and deliver meaningful development to the people.
Speaking on the budgeting process, Garba Bello, Assistant Planning Officer at the Ministry for Local Government, noted that Nigeria’s local governments are already operating with constitutional autonomy.
“They do their affairs on their own as the constitution gave them the mandate,” Bello said.
He explained that local councils work closely with wards and communities to identify and execute projects based on local needs.