From Esther Akaa, Lafia
Citizens of the Northern Senatorial Zone in Nasarawa State have advocated for an increase in the 2023 budget allocation for women and youths to help address unemployment and security challenges in the zone.
The citizens made the call on Thursday at a Town Hall meeting on Citizens’ Budget Consultation for Nasarawa North Senatorial Zone, held at the Multi-Purpose Hall, College of Education, Akwanga, Akwanga Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking at the meeting, representative of Market Women Association in Akwanga LGA, Mrs Hassana Sunday, urged the state government to increase the allocation for women that would include the provision of soft loans for market women.
According to her, the soft loan, if given will enable market women to expand their businesses, thereby increasing the revenue base of the state.
She also called on the government to give priority to the agricultural sector in the 2023 budget and provide more funds for the purchase of farm inputs for farmers to increase agricultural production in the zone and state at large.
Also speaking, representative of the youth group in the zone, Ezekiel Tachi, said women and youths were the most vulnerable groups in times of insecurity, hence should be empowered to address restiveness in the society.
“The state government should improve its capital expenditures of the state budget. They should implement programmes on youths and women such as training of women and youths in skills acquisition programme, in order to grow the economy of the state,” he said.
On his part, representative of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Mr Emmanuel Madaki commended the state government for consulting citizens in the preparation of the 2023 budget.
He, however, advocated for an increased 2023 budget to include vulnerable groups, especially children to address the challenges of out-of-school children and persons living with disabilities.
“Most times, caring for the vulnerable people is left in the hands of CSOs and what we are doing is getting support from partners to complement efforts of government because government alone cannot do all but we also need support from the government.
“We therefore, want the government to establish an orphanage home in Akwanga LGA that will serve Nasarawa Eggon, Akwanga and Wamba LGAs,” he said.
Similarly, Chairman, Persons Living with Disabilities (PLDs) in Akwanga LGA, Mr Bulus Doji, suggested a social security programme for PLDs, as well as sustain the stipend that is currently being given them.
He also called for the construction of more roads in the zone, especially to enable PLDs move without difficulties.
Earlier in his remark, the state Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Planning, Daniel Agyeno, said the engagement was geared towards the actualisation of the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) programme for Result (P4R), initiated by the World Bank to support Nigerian states to implement a Fiscal Sustainability Plan.
The commissioner, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Emmanuel Alizi, said since 2019 the state has organised four town hall meetings on Citizens’ Budget by adhering to DLI 2 of the SFTAS protocol which is anchored on “Increased Openness and Citizens’ Engagement in the Budget Process.
“This is an improvement in terms of participation and organisation over the previous engagements. Today we are here in Akwanga to ensure that people from Nasarawa North Senatorial Zone also contribute to government policies and programmes by adding value to the state’s plans and actions.
“You are all carefully selected from Akwanga, Nassarawa-Eggon and Wamba LGAs to represent various groups and interests. Your inputs here will be highly considered and appreciated,” he said.
The meeting was attended by representatives of various interest groups, including market women associations, farmers’ union, CSOs, Community-Based Organisations (CBOs), Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs), the media, youth associations and unions from both the formal and informal sectors.