By, Musa Jankada, Jalingo.

Stakeholders and citizens in Taraba State have intensified calls for greater transparency, accountability and citizen participation in local government administration, stressing that open governance is key to effective service delivery and development at the grassroots.

The call formed the highlight of a one-day policy dialogue workshop held in Jalingo, the state capital, where participants drawn from local government councils, civil society organisations and governance institutions examined ways to strengthen accountability mechanisms in local administration.

The workshop was organised by the Women Right to Education Programme (WREP) with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) as part of efforts to deepen democratic governance and promote inclusive participation in public policy processes.

Participants at the workshop included representatives from Ardo‑Kola Local Government Area, Gassol Local Government Area and Jalingo Local Government Area, alongside civil society groups and officials from the local government service councils and the state legislature.

During deliberations, participants identified several obstacles undermining transparency and efficiency in local government administration. 

Among the key concerns raised were inadequate funding for councils, delays in the release of approved funds, and the failure of many local governments to publicly disclose approved budgets and expenditure reports.

Stakeholders who contributed to the discussions included Abdulsalami Haruna, Naomi Joshua, Rimamsanati I. Adamu, Yakubu Solomon, Boniface Koson, Pastor Favour Dafid, Blessing Patrick Vakkai, Saidu Isa Mohammed and Agia Godwin.

At the end of the workshop, participants issued a communiqué outlining practical recommendations aimed at improving governance practices in local government areas across Taraba State.

The communiqué, jointly signed by the Chairman, Rimamsanati I. Adamu, and the Secretary, Agia Godwin, called on local government authorities to prioritise transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.

It stressed that inclusive citizen participation should be integrated into all stages of the budgeting cycle, including planning, negotiation and implementation.

Participants further emphasised the strategic role of senior local government officials, urging them to provide professional guidance to their chief executives on policy formulation, project execution and staff welfare in order to strengthen institutional effectiveness.

The communiqué also recommended that approved local government budgets and expenditure reports should be uploaded on official websites and other accessible electronic platforms to enable citizens track government spending and hold public officials accountable.

According to the participants, adequate funding and timely release of allocations remain critical for effective governance and the successful implementation of participatory budgeting processes at the grassroots.

The workshop also commended the leadership and members of the Women Right to Education Programme for their commitment to promoting knowledge, dialogue and best practices in local governance.

Participants urged sustained collaboration among government institutions, civil society organisations and development partners to deepen transparency, strengthen accountability mechanisms and improve service delivery in local government councils across Taraba State.