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Policy Alert Pushes for Open Budgets, Youth Participation at Ibesikpo Asutan Council

Policy Alert Pushes for Open Budgets, Youth Participation at Ibesikpo Asutan Council

 

 

By Ekemini Simon 

 

Policy Alert, a civil society organisation working to promote fiscal and ecological justice in Africa has called on Ibesikpo Asutan local government council and other local government councils in Akwa Ibom State to publish online their budgets and other fiscal documents.

 

Policy Alert made the call on Monday when the organisation paid an advocacy visit to the leadership of Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area as part of its project implementation tagged “Prioritising Communities, Enhancing Transparency and Accountability in Local Government Administration”.

 

The organisation which is implementing the project through the support of Nigeria Youth Future Funds said their call for stronger citizen participation, open budgeting, and inclusive governance at the grassroots

is backed by the Fiscal Responsibility Law of the State.

 

Speaking during the visit, Faith Paulinus, Governance Reforms and Anti-Corruption Lead and Programme Officer at Policy Alert, said the initiative is focused on empowering young people between the ages of 18 and 35 to actively engage with local government processes.

 

He noted that the organisation has already trained several youths across local governments in Akwa Ibom State and is now seeking the council’s support to deepen engagement through structured dialogue.

 

According to Paulinus, the next phase of the project includes organising a town hall meeting where trained youths can respectfully interact with council leadership on projects and programmes. The Governance Reforms Lead commended visible developments within Ibesikpo Asutan council but said there is need for greater transparency, particularly in fiscal management.

 

He said Policy Alert plans to facilitate quarterly budget town hall meeting and asked the council to make its budget and other fiscal documents publicly accessible online. “Citizens will better appreciate governance when they can see and engage with budget documents. Putting these documents online will deepen trust and participation,” he stressed.

 

The advocacy visit also highlighted a policy brief developed by Policy Alert, which calls for practical reforms to improve service delivery and inclusive participation of youth, women and persons with disabilities in local governance across Akwa Ibom State. The document recommends quarterly town hall budget forums, inclusive decision-making processes and proactive communication by local government chairmen, noting that citizen involvement strengthens governance and drives sustainable development.

 

The policy brief further advocates mass civic awareness campaigns by the state government, civil society organisations and the media to educate citizens on the roles and responsibilities of local governments. It also calls for the institutionalisation of transparency mechanisms, including regular budget performance briefings and public access to budget documents, as well as targeted investments in youth training on budget literacy, advocacy and civic engagement.

Faith Paulinus presents policy brief to Council Secretary.

On strengthening accountability, the brief called for support for youth-led and community-based organisations to monitor local government spending, engage in policy dialogue and mobilise communities, while also encouraging regional partnerships across the South-South to share best practices and build a youth-driven accountability ecosystem.

 

Also speaking, Dr Koko Udo of Policy Alert said local governments in Akwa Ibom play a critical role in grassroots development but are constrained by low citizen awareness, weak civic participation, limited transparency in budgeting and poor accountability mechanisms. He noted that although councils may be doing significant work, poor communication often leaves citizens unaware of these efforts.

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The council is doing much, but most people don’t know. When budgets are open and participatory, people are drawn closer, trust is built and support grows,” Dr Udo said. He added that some projects are implemented without citizen input and called on the local government to develop a clear community development plan to guide priorities and participation.

 

Responding on behalf of the Chairman of Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, the council secretary, Dr Edidiong Essien, welcomed the advocacy, describing it as necessary and timely. He said the council operates strictly within the provisions of the law and disclosed that about 80 per cent of projects captured in the 2025 budget had been executed.

 

According to him, the 2026 budget was developed following a needs assessment exercise carried out by councilors across communities.

 

He added that while progress may not fully meet public expectations, development efforts are guided by available funds. “If development continues, it will spread and cover larger grounds,” he said.

 

Dr Essien admitted that increased citizen interest and engagement would further improve accountability, as officials would be more responsive. He assured that plans are underway to host an official local government website to consider the possibility of publishing budget documents online. He added that all issues raised during the advocacy visit would be conveyed to the chairman and pledged the council’s support for Policy Alert to effectively implement the project in the area.

 

Meanwhile, the Ibesikpo Asutan visit marks the latest in a series of engagements by Policy Alert with local government leaders in Akwa Ibom State, following similar advocacy visits to Ikono, Uyo, Etinan and Ikot Ekpene local government areas.

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