Zaria, Kaduna State – In a bold move to enhance accountability and transparency in public financial management, Kaduna State has become the first in Nigeria to initiate a Citizen Participatory Auditing (CPA) framework. The framework was drafted during a three-day workshop held from November 13 to 15, 2024, in Zaria.
Organized by the Office of the Auditor General of Kaduna State in collaboration with the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Technical Working Group (TWG) and supported by development partners, the event brought together key stakeholders. These included the State and Local Government Auditor Generals, Public Accounts Committee (PAC) members, representatives from the Ministries of Health and Education, civil society organizations (CSOs), the media, and professional bodies like ICAN.
The workshop, themed “Enhancing Accountability in Financing and Human Capital Development through Citizen’s Participatory Auditing,” aimed to draft a framework to improve service delivery through collaborative problem-solving and participatory auditing.
Key Observations
Participants acknowledged the vital role of financial oversight in effective public resource management and highlighted Kaduna State’s leadership in initiating the CPA framework. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Kaduna State House of Assembly was identified as critical to ensuring transparency by rigorously reviewing audit reports.
Discussions emphasized the need for PAC to enable citizen engagement in the auditing process while fostering collaboration between stakeholders across all sectors. The involvement of CSOs in amplifying citizens’ voices and ensuring accountability was also commended, as was the appointment of CSO desk officers by the Auditor General’s Office.
The workshop further underlined the importance of legislative committees in health, education, and social services toward human capital development and poverty reduction.
Resolutions and Next Steps
Participants resolved to create a Steering Committee to oversee the CPA process and formed a 12-member co-working group tasked with harmonizing inputs for the draft framework. A two-day engagement and a stakeholder validation meeting will be held to finalize and approve the framework.
The CPA framework is set to be publicly launched and piloted during the 2024 audit reporting cycle. It aims to mainstream citizen participation in public finance management, ensuring transparency, lawfulness, and value for money in government spending.
Stakeholders Commend Kaduna State’s Leadership
Stakeholders at the workshop praised Kaduna State for its innovative approach, urging other states and federal agencies to emulate the initiative. The framework, they said, would bridge gaps between government and citizens, strengthen trust, and promote sustainable development.
Development partners, including Save the Children International, Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI), and others, expressed optimism that the framework would serve as a model for advancing accountability reforms in Nigeria.
The initiative is a critical milestone under Commitment One of Kaduna State’s OGP State Action Plan (SAP 3), reinforcing the state’s commitment to transparency, citizen engagement, and effective public finance management.
Signed:
Gabriel Adinga, Secretariat Member, CLEAP
Waniya Ilu, Head of Admin, KAD-LGAM
Seth Luke, CS Co-chair, OGP TWG on Strengthening Participatory Budgeting
