NGO tasks journalists on budget process

From Femi Oyelola Kaduna

Nigerian journalists have been challenged to be part of the budget processing in the country in other to ensure that the rule of accountability, transparency and participation are strictly adhere to, Kaduna state Chairman of Journalists for Positive Change (J4PC), Chief Dominic Uzu made this assertion in his welcome address at a one day training workshop on ‘understanding the budget process for journalists

for positive change’ held in Kaduna on wednesday.

Chief Dominic added that journalist as the mouth piece of the people most diligently followed the budget process from the preparation approval, implementation and monitoring stages.

“it is very painful to know that journalist today are comfortable with the amount announced as the budget for the year without asking the government how realistic the budget is, what is the source of the

income for the budget and the impact of the budget for the people, today you see government at both state and Federal level budgeting huge amount of money but the infrastructure and services provided is

far from the announced budget “ we as journalist have a great tasks that budget process reportage

became a popular part of our practice we must be ready to hold government accountable on every single Naira budgeted for because it is public fund and must be accountable for” he said.

In his own remark the guest lecturer Bonet Emmanuel said the media basic role is to inform the wider community about government priorities, commitments, concerns on availability distribution, access

and quality of services, offer solutions to challenges discovered in relation to public expenditure and service delivery.

Also speaking, the Secretary, (J4PC), Mr. Iliya Kure said the workshop which is an enlistment programmed for journalist was sponsored by State Accountability voice Initiative

(SAVI) and Know Your Budget (KYB) in other to educate and enlighten journalist on budget process and enhance their reportage in line with accepted practices.