Ebonyi State government has adopted measures to generate inputs from citizens of the State about budgets planning and implementation.
To that effect the government has condensed it’s 680-page 2024 budget document into an infographic eight-page version for easier public consumption.
This according to the Commissioner for Budget Planning Research and Monitoring, Mrs Deborah Okah is to make it easy for citizens to view the budget at a glance, and to ensure that their inputs are reflected.
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She noted that the detailed budget and quarterly implementation reports are accessible on the State government’s website.
She made the disclosure on the occasion of her opening remarks during presentation and dissemination of 2024 Citizens’ Budget held at Re-Meritona Hotel, Abakaliki to signpost the significant strides in governance transparency and inclusiveness.
“We have collapsed the 2024 budget into a format that allows citizens to view it at a glance, assuring their inputs are reflected,” she explained noting that the detailed budget and quarterly implementation reports are accessible on the state government’s website”, she stated.
The Commissioner said that government of Ebonyi State under the leadership of the governor, Rt Hon. Bldr Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru is prepared to make Ebonyi people happy by ensuring that all his electoral promises contained in the people’s charter of needs are met squarely.
On his part, the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Dr Leonard Uguru during interactive session of the event decried as unfortunate the unempathetic posture of most churches in the state who he accused of creating economic hardship by collecting from the very poor multiple offertories and tithes without giving anything back to the society. He revealed that the government will soon come up with categories of church taxation to help the exploited poor in return, reiterating the governor’s directive that low-income earners, poor vegetable sellers andj all agricultural products are exempted from taxes while urging the citizenry to be tax literate and outspoken.
In his goodwill message the Hon Commissioner for Ministry for Donor Agencies, Hon. Solomon Azi praised the budget’s impact on low-income earners, citing benefits such as gratuity payments, reduced school fees, salary increases, and tax exemptions. “Looking at the impacts on low-income earners, especially with the payment of gratuity, reduction in school fees, and the announcement that low-income earners no longer pay tax, we have every reason to thank our Governor for running a human-centered government,” he said. He also suggested future budgets to include provision for elderly citizens, proposing a “Parental Grants” scheme.
The ovation went higher when Chief Oliver Aja Chima of the Ebonyi Civil Society Network commended the government for maintaining the citizens’ budget program, initially introduced through the SFTAS initiative. He emphasized its role in promoting accountability and citizen engagement. “This citizens budget will help us know what the government has prioritized and guide us on where and what we can engage with the government to ensure accountability,” he said.
While making his speech, Professor Egwu Ogugua, Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) Ebonyi State on his part lauded the initiative and called for further inclusivity. He suggested translating future citizens’ budget presentations into Igbo and other indigenous languages and ensuring accessibility for physically challenged citizens. He also urged the government to consider the new national minimum wage in future budgets.
Barr. Hyacinth Uguru, Director General of Mines and Agriculture, emphasized the importance of budget discipline in implementation.
The high point of the event was when the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget, Planning, Research and Monitoring , Mrs. MfomWilliamson made her breathtaking presentation of the Citizens’ Budget assured assured stakeholders of the program’s sustainability. She opined that “the citizens’ budget practice is here to stay. We will continue with this program to ensure transparency and inclusiveness,” she said.
She presented a detailed budget’s revenue sources and expenditure plans, highlighting a balanced budget of 202.13 billion Nair adding that the budget includes domestic and foreign grants, loans, and internally generated revenue. She also revealed that the government plans to implement the new national minimum wage for Ebonyi State workers and provision for 1,500 civil servants to be employed in 2024.
Responding to questions, Mrs. Williamson reassured citizens about the state’s commitment to infrastructure, noting ongoing construction of 67 community roads and addressed the importance of making the budget accessible in indigenous languages and ensuring provisions for the physically challenged.
On loans and grants, the permanent secretary assured of the government’s prudent in financial management. “As of now, Ebonyi State has not taken any loan yet. The Governor has said categorically that his administration is not going to take any loans. We are focusing on sustainable development without incurring additional debt,” she explained.
Projecting a detailed breakdown of the revenue sources, including statutory allocations 37bn, VAT 36.50bn, other statutory revenue 34.82bn, internally generated revenue 25.10bn and that the state had an opening balance of 6 billion Naira carried over from 2023, domestic grants 22.61bn, foreign loans 15.50bn, other deficit financing items 13.34bn, domestic loans 5.bn, and sales of government assets 67.39m. On expenditure 202.13bn, maintaining that the budget covers personnel costs 28.16bn, overhead costs 31.23bn, and capital projects 132.80bn, and other recurrent expenditure 9.9bn, with a balanced approach to ensure no deficit.
On sectoral allocations, Mrs. Williamson mentioned that significant funds are earmarked for education, infrastructure, and health, aligning with the People’s Charter of Needs. The Ministry of Tertiary Education 23.80bn and Primary Education received 22.25 billion Naira, while the Ministry of Works and Transport and the Ministry of Health received 21.94 billion Naira and 13.39 billion Naira, respectively.
Mrs. Ituma Chinyere, Director of Budget in her vote of thanks, appreciated the stakeholders’ support, inputs and contributions to the budget process.
For further clarity and retrospection, recall that the citizens’ budget is a simplified version of the approved budget that provides an overview of the government income and expenses, making it easier for ordinary citizens to understand how their tax money is used.
The goal by the Ebonyi State government is to ensure that citizens have access to clear and concise information about the budget ; enabling them to participate in the decision-making process and hold the government accountable for its financial management.
This comprehensive presentation of the 2024 Citizens Budget marks a significant milestone in Ebonyi State’s journey towards inclusive and transparent governance, reinforcing its commitment to the People’s Charter of Needs and fostering a government truly for the people.
The event concluded with a commitment to continue fostering a participatory and transparent budgeting process, ensuring that the 2024 Citizens Budget truly reflects the needs and aspirations of Ebonyi’s citizens
Head, Public Relations Department,
Ministry of Budget, Planning, Research and Monitoring.