Governance: CODE/ Action Aid Train Youth on Budget Tracking
Connected Development (CODE), a civil society organisation, in collaboration with its partner, Action Aid Nigeria(AAN)has trained youth in Akwa Ibom state on budget monitoring and tracking as part of its efforts in building youth capacity for development and effective participation in the democratic process.
The two day event which drew selected youths in Akwa Ibom State is a Follow The Money Intiative of CODE, aimed at empowering citizens on participatory governance and effective engagement of key stakeholders and policy makers.
Speaking on the essence of the training, Mukhtar Modugbo, the Community Engagement Officer of CODE described the training as timely, considering that Nigeria’s democracy was ageing , hence the need for young people in the state to shift from being normal citizens to active citizens for development to happen in communities.
“The Idea behind this is that we get young people to begin to talk about governance. See governance as something they should engage in. We know democracy is demand and supply, question and answer.”
He further highlighted various areas covered by the training to include advocacy skills, community outreach and effective ways to engage government using the Follow the Money Model.
” At some point on this project, we started with budget analysis. We analysed the budget and itemized problems affecting young people in Akwa Ibom State. We further equipped them with skills to track the budget and the implementation project in Akwa Ibom State.”
Also speaking, Unyime Ekpoudia the Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of ACTIVISTA and Youth Organising Leadership, YOL project of Action Aid Nigeria said tracking budgeted funds will mitigate corruption and promote transparent and accountable democracy.
“Young people must be involved in the process of decision making on issues affecting them. They must ask questions and demand answers from elected representatives. We need development in our communities. We need a gender responsive public service in Akwa Ibom State, hence, this partnership with CODE to empower youths with the relevant advocacy skills to take the lead,” She said.
Ubong Ukpe, a participant described the training as remarkable and expository.
” The skills I have learnt will help me engage with community stakeholders to track projects alloted to their area. I will also be able to engage the state actors in demanding for information on public funds budgeted for public project for the common good of the people,” he said.
Another participant, Edidiong Enang said she was informed on how to engage key stakeholders demand accountability for the development of her community.
” I can now support community people to take ownership of projects coming into their communities for effective development, ” she said.
The participants are expected to engage in project tracking in several communities after the programme with intensive online sensitization.
Other skills offered to the participants included data mining, Stakeholders mapping, Use social media for advocacy, community outreach reporting, Freedom of Information Act among others.
