Bosede Olufunmi Alemeru
The Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme has conducted a one-day capacity-building training for civil society organisations (CSOs) and media practitioners in Kano, focusing on budget tracking, public procurement monitoring, investigative journalism, and the effective use of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.
Speaking during the training on Monday, the Lead Facilitator,Dr. Abdussalam Kani, said the exercise aims to strengthen accountability and transparency in budget implementation and public service delivery.
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According to him, the training will equip participants with the skills to track and report the implementation of the state budget using simplified Public Financial Management Laws (PFMLs), thereby enabling them to monitor public funds and demand accountability from government officials.
“It will allow them to monitor funds, ensure community needs are captured, and foster better governance,” he stated.
Dr. Kani explained that the training also seeks to deepen the understanding of CSOs and the media on how public funds are managed, including the timely submission and publication of audited accounts.
He noted that Kano State currently operates five key public financial management laws:the Audit Law,Public Procurement Law,Public Debt Management Office Law,Public Financial Management Law, andthe Local Government Revenue Administration Law.
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He said participants are expected to track the implementation of audit recommendations, follow up with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and organise media roundtables to discuss audit findings with stakeholders.
He further stressed the importance of adhering to timelines in budget preparation, particularly the presentation of budgets, revenue policy outlines, and disclosures on outstanding debts and guarantees under Section 11 of the budget proposal.
Dr. Kani urged journalists to apply investigative methods when engaging public officials on budget-related matters, while advising CSOs to adopt stronger advocacy strategies throughout the budget process.
He reminded participants that penalties exist for budgets that are not properly implemented or fail to meet legal requirements.
A participant, Zubaidah Muhammed of Muhasa Radio and Television, commended RoLAC for organising the training and pledged to apply the knowledge gained to report the state budget with sincerity and accuracy.
Another participant, Shittu Sani from Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, described the training as timely, saying it would enable CSOs and journalists to adopt a unified advocacy approach and better educate the public on the utilisation of public funds.