Budget tracking: Budgit Foundation sharpens stakeholders skills in Ibaka

 

Ekere Ime

In its unwavering effort to keep citizens abreast of their responsibilities of holding government accountable, a non-governmental organisation, Budgit Foundation has over the weekend extended residents' sensitisation engagement on budget tracking to Ibaka in Mbo local government area. 

According to the Akwa Ibom state representative of Budgit Foundation, Mr James Akpan, " the purpose for the sensitization exercise was to educate participants about the budgetary process, including the steps involved, how to engage with their locally elected leaders, and how to write and submit their community needs to these leaders."

He noted that the sensitisation engagement has empowered community members to be actively involved  in the operations of their local government, typically in educating them about the budgetary process and its various steps, teaching them how to engage with their locally elected leaders, and instructing them on how to effectively make demands and communicate with those leaders.

The one-day sensitisation meeting with the rural dwellers which witnessed a plethora of youths, elders and women, expressed gratitude to Budgit Foundation for organizing the event and promised to apply everything they were taught

Speaking on behalf of the community, Chief Peter Asukwo Isemin expressed gratitude to Budgit for what he described as valuable information, and promised to implement the teachings. He stated that he would make demands through the office of the local government chairman and would also follow up on ongoing and future projects in their area.

The event drew a diverse group of participants, including youths, women, elders, and individuals with disabilities. It was an interactive gathering where attendees had the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers. Participants were also introduced to technological tools, such as govspend.ng by BudgiT, to help them demand accountability from their leaders.