Kano Citizens Scrutinize 2024 Budget,Develop Advocacy kits
By Khadija Aliyu
Coalition of citizen groups in Kano, converged for a three day meeting on the 2024 budget process, priorities and performance,to develop advocacy kits.
Speaking at the meeting,the state partnership facilitator,partnership to engage reform and learn (PERL), ECP, Malam Isa Surajo explained that,the objectives of the session was to harmonize and develop a strategy, for disseminating the mid year health and education budget with key stakeholders.
He stressed that,the meeting also identified citizens related projects and programs for legislative advocacy, as well scrutinizing key sectoral budget allocations by aligning with government priorities.
In his presentation titled emerging issues from 2023 budget analysis and performance, Salisu Yusuf from Accountability mechanism on maternal newborn and child health in Kano state (AMMkas), identified projects in first and second quarter of 2023, that are yet to receive funding as well as those that were not adequately budgeted.
He decried over lack of cash backing, to implement projects, and called for Citizen MTSS to collate inputs.
Dr. Auwal Halilu, from CSACEFA explained that, the education group scrutinized sectors such as pre-primary,primary ,secondary and tertiary education, in the 2023 quarter one and two, education budget performance.
He highlighted that, they identified inadequate funding,zero releases and other important sectors, that were neglected under the ministry of education.
Hajiya Mairo Bello from adolescent and health information projects (AHIP),and Dr. Abdulsalam Kani from the department of economics, Sa’adatu Rimi University of education Kumbotso, advocated for more funding in the education sector.
The coalition mapped out advocacy kits (per issue), identifying media engagements,advocacy to Kano state house of assembly,Kano state ministry of planning and budget,ministry of finance,bureau of statistics as some of the major catalysts, in ensuring adequate funding, release and implementation of the 2024 proposed budget.
Some of the groups that participated in the three days session includes Hasken Kano, CSACEFA, AHIP, FIDAC,AMMkas, K-SAFE,GEP,AMMkas,among others.
The event tagged, three day meeting with citizens platforms on the 2024 budget processes, was supported by PERL (ECP), PLANE and LAFIYA.
