The Nigerian Government has urged Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to provide suggestions and feedback that can help improve public services across the country.
This call was made by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, during the Citizens and Stakeholders Engagement Forum in Abuja.
He encouraged civil society groups to use data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) when assessing government policies and programmes.
According to him, active citizen participation is essential for ensuring better service delivery, especially at the local ward level.
The Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Dr. Taminu Yakubu, explained that the Nigerian Constitution gives citizens ownership of public resources, which means they have a right to influence how budgets are prepared and implemented.
He urged Nigerians to take an active interest in the budget process and not just remain passive observers.
Yakubu also clarified that the 2024 and 2025 budgets are being implemented at the same time, with the capital component of the 2024 budget extended to run concurrently with the 2025 budget.
Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, Statistician General of the Federation and CEO of NBS, advised civil society groups to rely on official NBS data when making decisions or offering input, noting that the data are publicly available.
The Acting Permanent Secretary, Dr. Sampson Ebimaro, highlighted that the engagement demonstrates the government’s recognition of the value and experience civil society brings to policymaking.
He stressed that the insights and recommendations from CSOs are crucial for shaping the country’s development, promoting transparency, participatory planning, and accountable management of resources, which are fundamental rights for every Nigerian.