The recent 3-day workshop held in Zaria, Kaduna State, has marked a critical juncture in promoting transparency in human capital development financing through citizen participation in the auditing process. This initiative aligns with Kaduna State’s broader agenda to build a culture of openness, accountability, and effective governance.
Key participants included government officials from various ministries, departments, and agencies, as well as members from the disability community, civil society, and international partners like Save the Children International. They highlighted the importance of fostering stronger collaboration between civil society and government bodies, with citizens actively involved in monitoring public financial management.
Kaduna State Auditor General, Abubakar Abdullahi, emphasized his office’s commitment to establishing sustainable citizen participatory audits, suggesting that this workshop would lay the foundation for ongoing engagement in the state’s financial oversight.
Rt Hon. Yusuf Mugu, Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, stressed the need for a shift in attitudes among both politicians and citizens, with an aim to embed transparency at all levels of governance.
Mr. Abdulrahman Mikail from Save the Children International underscored the importance of including rural communities in human capital development plans, while Ms. Biobele Davidson of Budgit Foundation focused on health systems as vital to this development agenda. Mr. Abdulwahab Shehu, an ICAN fellow, called for the concrete implementation of workshop recommendations to ensure tangible outcomes.
Organized by the Office of the Auditor General of Kaduna State and the Technical Working Group on Strengthening Participatory Budget Process, the workshop saw support from multiple local and international organizations. Stakeholders left with a reinforced commitment to transparency and are optimistic about the sustainable impact of citizen participatory audits in Kaduna State’s development plans.
