Kogi Restates Commitment to Citizens Participation in Governance, Says Finance Commissioner

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

The Kogi State Government has continued to demonstrate its commitment to engendering citizens’ participation in the governance in the state.

The State Commissioner for Finance, Budget, Economic Planning, Mr. Asiru Idris, disclosed this yesterday while speaking at the stakeholders’ meeting on the 2024 budget in Lokoja. 

Idris explained that the era when budget preparation is an exclusive preserve of the MDAs is gone for good.

He said: “As we all know our state has been well celebrated for the progress we have made in our budgeting process in the last few years.

“One of the most visible ingredients of these success stories is the stakeholders’ engagement on budget. For the second time in the life of this administration Kogi State came first in the North-central and one of the best in the country in the budget transparency and accountability index. We must stay on this course so that we can become better in the period ahead.

“Let me, therefore, commend you all for always making yourselves available to interrogate our policies/programs and providing alternatives that speak to the issues affecting our people.

“The fact that we are gathered here annually to hear from you as raw as you feel them demonstrates the commitment of the state government to engender participatory governance in the state.

“Let me say very emphatically that Governor Yahaya Bello accords the highest priority to this stakeholders’ session on budget.