By Ibrahim Kado
The Adamawa Government and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)have brainstormed on the state’s 2025 budget.
This was done through the USAID State2State activity, via which the citizens across the 21 Local Government Areas (LGA)were engaged in discussions on the budget to bolster accountability, transparency and effectiveness in governance.
Speaking at the engagement in Yola on Wednesday, Mr Iheanyi Iheke, State2State’s LG Manager said, the objective of the meeting was to ensure an inclusive budget.
“And enhance its process as well as enhance citizens participation in monitoring budget implementation.
“Because we want the Adamawa budget to be a citizens-budget and to be realistic,” he said.
In his remarks, the Commissioner, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Emmanuel Austine, said the meeting was an opportunity for them to hear suggestions, concerns, and aspirations for future development at the grassroots.
The commissioner, represented by Mr Murbule Abraham, Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget and Economic Planning, advised the stakeholders to fully participate for more development.
“Together, we can work towards building a more prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable community.
“I urge the participants to actively participate in the discussions, to share ideas and experiences.
”I am committed to ensuring that your voices are heard and your priorities are reflected in our budget planning process,” he said.
Austine further appreciated USAID for its support to the ministry and state at large in addressing critical issues such as education, health and WASH sectors.
Mr Beatrice Benjamin, who spoke on behalf of CSOs, described the engagement as the right step in the right direction and an opportunity for the LGs to learn.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the same exercise was conducted in four State2State focal LGAs; Mubi-North, Gombi, Numan and Yola-North.
