By Joy Baba – Yesufu
The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has urged the Federal Government and Civil Society Organisations, to be transparent while disbursing funds from foreign donor adding that all parties must hold themselves accountable in the implementation of their own commitments.
ANEEJ Acting Executive Director, Mr. Leo Atakpu stated this during a Stakeholders Assessment Programme on the Report on Aid Effectiveness of the 4th HLF Busan 2011 to Paris 2023, stakeholders’ assessment of the 4MR themes: organised by ANEEJ.
Mr. Atakpu who was represented by the organization’s programme coordinator, Paul Odokara said the event is a follow -on to the training conducted by the CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness (CPDE) in December 2023 on CSO engagement in the 4th monitoring Round in Brussels, Belgium.
“It is in view of this that ANEEJ received support from CPDE to engage stakeholders in the national level monitoring process and submit a report focusing on the assessment of the 4MR themes namely; Whole of Society, State and Use of Country Systems, Transparency and Leave No One Behind (LNOB).
“While it is important for civil societies to hold government accountable on these commitment, Civil Societies, Development Partners, Private Sector and Trade Unions must also hold themselves accountable in the implementation of their own commitments. The 4MR Monitoring therefore emphasizes Mutual Accountability and Transparency” Atakpu added.
While fielding questions from journalist, Odokara noted that 80 percent of donor funds lack accountability to Nigerians, this according to him is a significant issue affecting transparency in the country’s budgetary process.
He further said there was need for the government to be transparent with citizens regarding the utilization of these funds for national development, emphasizing that it’s a collective process.
