By Jessica John Bakari
The Adamawa 2025 budget is the focus of a recent roundtable organized by USAID Nigeria State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness (State2State) Activity Adamawa.
The event, held at the American University of Nigeria (AUN) Hotel in Yola, aimed to encourage ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to include citizens in the planning of the 2025 budget.
Suzanne Myada, the team lead for State2State in Adamawa, emphasized the importance of citizen inclusion in the budget to promote good governance and improve public finance management.
The roundtable provided an opportunity for MDAs to discuss progress, challenges, and responsibilities related to citizen engagement in budget consultation. It also focused on ensuring that citizens’ nominated projects are included in the 2025 budget.
The meeting also addressed how civil society organizations can leverage citizen engagement and accountability tools to enhance collaboration and advocate for improved service delivery in Adamawa State.
The discussions aimed to improve public finance management and bring citizens closer to the government to benefit from its policies.
Key presentations were made by Public Finance Management Specialist Kenan Allahdon and State to State Local Government Manager Iheanyi Iheke, supported by Emmanuel Bwala, a consultant.
They focused on reviewing citizens’ nominated budget and ensuring that citizens’ demands were integrated into the 2025 work plan.
In his address, Mr. Iliya Danyaro, the Director of Budget at the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, urged the MDAs to contribute significantly to the development of an effective 2025 plan that addresses the needs of Adamawa.
Participants expressed gratitude for the roundtable, noting that it would help address the needs of citizens at the community level.
They appreciated the capacity-building efforts of State2State and pledged to share the knowledge acquired with their colleagues.