CSOs Launch New Committee to Strengthen Budget Monitoring and Ensure Transparency

• …As Leaders Reiterate Commitment to Tackling Corruption and Enhancing Governance
• …Says CBIAMEC will Improve Oversight and Accountability in Government Budget Implementation

Leaders of various Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) gathered on Thursday to officially inaugurate the executive members of a newly formed committee dedicated to enhancing transparency in government budget processes.

According to gathered report, CBIAMEC which stands for  CSOs Budget Implementation, Assessment, Monitoring, and Evaluation Committee, will focus on promoting effective budget implementation, ensuring accountability, and addressing potential gaps in government financial operations.

Comr. Splendour Agbonkpolor, the newly inaugurated chairman of CBIAMEC, speaking to newsmen, outlined the committee’s comprehensive mandate. He said; “Our role is to monitor budget implementation, assess its impact, identify any gaps, and advocate for necessary reforms. We are committed to promoting transparency, producing evidence-based reports, and collaborating with relevant stakeholders to support capacity-building efforts.”

Emphasizing his commitment to leading the committee impartially, Agbonkpolor assured that no organization would be protected in the fight against corruption. “We are working toward assisting the government in evaluating projects at the implementation level. We aim to set a new standard for leadership that will transcend the current state of governance,” he noted.

Also explaining that the initiative is coming at a crucial time when concerns about corruption and mismanagement of public funds have intensified. Comr. Okpanachi Jacob, Head of Planning, addressed the committee’s core objective of overseeing government procurement procedures. “Our primary aim is to ensure that government projects are executed in a transparent and accountable manner,” he stated. “The endemic corruption we’ve witnessed in the past demands a strong check on the system, and we are committed to delivering on that promise.”

Comr. Patrick Ogheneyero, the Head of Operations, who also spoke to newsmen, highlighted the vast sums of money expended on public projects and the need for rigorous oversight. Ogheneyero said “Billions of naira have been spent on budgeting, monitoring, and evaluation in this country. As civil society organizations, it is our duty to ensure that every kobo allocated to government projects is spent transparently and effectively.”

Meanwhile in an oath rendition by Barr. Joseph Ndaguba Esq., the newly appointed executives of the committee,  all pledged to collaborate with governmental bodies, international organizations, and other stakeholders to foster greater accountability in Nigeria’s budgetary processes and bring about bout meaningful reforms.