By Mubarak Aliyu Kobi
Bauchi state Government has been implored to operate an open door policy that Will accommodate Non-state actors as well as citizens into budget process for accountability and transparency in managing public resources.
This was part of the recommendation of 17 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Bauchi State at the end of one day summit on public financing for Agriculture budget committee held in FadamaIII conference hall Bauchi.
Martaba FM reports that the summit was organized by Bauchi budget committee group (BCG) in collaboration with Fahimta Women and Youth Development Initiative (FAWOYDY) as well as ActionAid Nigeria.
Reading a communique issued at the end of the Summit, Chairperson, Bauchi state Budget Advocacy committee Mrs Tabawa Atiku pointed out that, the state investment plan should be a compilation of the state developed agricultural investment plans that contains state crops with comparative advantages.
“Such plans will highlight the commitment of the state, PPP windows and their alignment to the state economic policy and development plans and called for the implementation of the 10 percent Maputo/Malabo Declaration as promised by Governor Bala Mohammed”. She said.
The Chairperson said as approved by the 44th National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development, the three tiers of government should commit 10 percent of their annual budget to the agricultural sector to meet the 10 percent Maputo/Malabo Declaration required to support at least 6 percent growth rate for the sector.
She said the summit recognized and commended the progressive improvement in the collaboration between Bauchi State Government and the Non-State Actors in the effort towards promoting increased investment, transparency and accountability in public financing of agriculture in Bauchi State.
Mrs Tabawa stated that, there is need to bring more smallholder women farmers to the front of the budget planning discussion at the state and local government levels, saying women need to get brought side by side with their male counterparts in the discussion.
She suggested that, the yearly state agricultural budget should be more gender responsive by providing line items for the implementation of the National Gender Policy in Agriculture that addresses specific challenges that affect women farmers.
The Chairperson who appreciated the support of the media in promoting increased investment in agriculture, urged MDAs in the state to respect the FOI act by providing access to budget information.
