Citizen groups advocate timely release and improvement in Kano budget performance
By Khadija Aliyu
Citizens groups in Kano, decried over low budget performance, untimely and inadequate release of funds, in the first and second quarter of 2023.
This was part of resolutions, at the end of a two day workshop, on the review and analysis of Q1 and Q2, budget performance of health and education in 2023,held in Kano.
Representatives from the citizen groups, Alhaji Salisu Yusuf from AMMKAS, Dr. Auwal Halilu from CSACEFA, and Dr. Adulsalam Kani from FIDAC, oriented participants on the training objectives,by engaging participants to recognize the value of budget tracking, to ensure accountability and good governance.
A presentation by Dr. Abdulsalam Kani, covered the budget cycle process,while Sulaiman Gidado Isma’il from hasken Kano, guided participants on hands-on training, on using budget tracking templates to analyze performance data.
However, participants were segregated into two groups on education and health, where they tracked 2023 first and second quarter Kano budget performance.
Key findings from the groups analysis include, irregular budget performance updates, gaps in allocations for overhead costs and capital investments, duplication of budget codes, Inadequate funding for monitoring and evaluation,as some of the major setbacks of the Q1 and Q2,2023 budget.
They emphasized the importance of evidence-based advocacy, and constructive engagements with the government for improved service delivery.
The citizen groups recommended increase in budgetary allocations and releases, timely provision of quarterly budget performance report to the public, increase in capital allocation against recurrent allocation, to reduce governance costs and create jobs in Kano state.
The groups, identified oversight by the state house of assembly as a major catalyst that would improve releases,as well as continuous improvement in public budget education through media engagement, town hall meetings, and workshops, to guarantee widespread public acceptance of government budget measures.
The two days workshop was organized by the Accountability Mechanism for Maternal and Child Health in Kano State (AMMKaS), civil society action coalition on education for all (CSACEFA), Fiscal discipline and development advocacy center (FIDAC), and hasken Kano was supported by PERL ECP.
