The United Nations Institute for Training and Research UNITAR/PHPO in Nigeria is collaborating with federal, states, local authorities and other stakeholders to provide assistance in Governance and Socio-Economic Development in the Niger Delta Region. Since March 2006, the Institute has been conducting series of training and capacity building programmes to strengthen the states, and local government systems in their quest to achieve the MDGs.
The demand for basic social services has increased with development centres. More resources are needed to meet the huge demand for these services. The lack of institutional capacity to generate adequate funds to execute projects on one hand and the limited inclusive citizenry/ stakeholder participation in effectively deciding what projects and programmes are priority to their communities on the other hand, were observed as fundamental deficits to sustainable development in the Niger Delta Region.
UNITAR/PHPO in collaboration with Abia State Government mounted the present 3 day workshop which was targeted at a higher level of local governance and succinctly aimed to strengthen the capacities of senior officials of the local authorities to implement sustainable and socio- economic programmes that will bring about economic independence in their communities through Participatory Budgeting and Revenue Generation (PBGR).
Thirty five (35) Senior Local Government Officials drawn from the rank of Heads of Department of Budget, Research, Planning and Statistics from the seventeen (17) Local Government Areas and Statisticians from the State Planning Commission participated in the three-day Workshop. Thirteen (13) beneficiaries were females. The Workshop was successful and highly appreciated by beneficiaries.
The Workshop was participatory and interactive. Resource persons presented concepts and practices with reference to Africa’s experiences and beyond. Case studies gave participants insight into the challenges and solutions to problems of PBRG in the local authorities. Group Work enhanced the level of assimilation of the concepts and best practices.
Outcome of workshop:
- Participants understood the concept of PBRG; it re-enforced the concept of Local Economic Empowerment and Development Strategies (LEEDS) which Abia State had developed in the past using the same target audience.
- They were able to enumerate the challenges of Participatory Budgeting & Revenue Generation at local government authority level.
- They analyzed the risks of implementing PBRG and suggested measures for mitigation them.
- They shared experiences of other African and Caribbean countries that have adopted PBRG.
- They also established new guidelines for inclusive collaboration with citizens in decision making for increased revenue generation.
- Finally each participant drew up Action plans for new revenue generation agenda at their respective local government areas.
Participants requested UNITAR to organize similar fora for Chairmen who are the Chief Executives of the Local Government Authorities and Legislators at the State Assembly to update them and facilitate the implementation of the new concept of PBRG in Abia State. In response to the request, PHPO has considered the inclusion of PBRG workshops for Council Chairmen and Legislators in Abia State in the agenda for discussion with Abia State Monitoring Committee Work Plan.