BudgIT’s work embodies the essence of civic consciousness, calling for transparency and accountability—fundamental principles of good governance. Civic responsibility is vital in a democracy, enabling citizens to hold leaders accountable and ensuring that government actions reflect the people’s interests. Accusing the Sokoto State Government of fiscal opacity is not overreach; it reflects citizens’ rights to know how public resources are managed. BudgIT and likeminded CSOs are vehicles of citizen hope, aspiration and collectivity and translate the yearnings of citizens to action.
States are not private enterprises, and dismissing accountability by claiming NGOs have no constitutional mandate undermines democracy. Governments exist to serve the public, and as such, they must be held accountable to their citizens. This accountability is not optional; it is a fundamental requirement of democracy. Transparency goes beyond satisfying state assemblies; it includes active engagement with the public. Budget documents are public documents; everyone, including the citizens and Civil Society Organizations, should have access to them. Criticising NGOs for exposing gaps does not address those gaps; it perpetuates them. An accountable government should not become defensive; instead, it should reflect on its performance to understand why it has fallen short of expectations and best practices. These transparency standards were accepted by the states prior to the launch of BudgIT’s Transparency League during the implementation of the SFTAS program.
Highlighting Sokoto’s fiscal challenges or achievements doesn’t excuse a lack of budget disclosure. Constructive civic engagement enhances governance rather than undermining it. The idea that BudgIT should alter its approach overlooks the need for citizens to demand high standards of fiscal responsibility. Instead of attempting to suppress NGOs, governments should embrace accountability and promote collaboration with civil society organisations (CSOs) to improve governance. This partnership benefits citizens with a more responsive government and allows administrations to stand out among peers by demonstrating their commitment to good governance. By viewing governance challenges as opportunities for collaboration, citizens, CSOs, and the government can achieve a mutually beneficial outcome.
Suppressing civic discourse threatens democracy, as a vibrant civic space is vital for accountability and power checks. Constructive criticism drives transformative change while silencing NGOs highlighting government failures is detrimental and obstructs reform. Focusing on solutions rather than censorship is essential. Ultimately, an inclusive and functional government benefits all, whereas a dysfunctional one fails to serve anyone.
We call on the Sokoto state government to work with BugIT and other active civic society organisations like CISD, EIE, and PLSI to improve their public finance management process. CSOs are partners in strengthening government institutions and are to be seen as such.
Signed
Temitope Odeyemi
Research Analyst
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