The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Tuesday urged Nigerians to participants in budget tracking .
It said citizens active participation in budget tracking would curb corruption in public services.
The ICPC Commissioner in Akwa Ibom, Mr Shola Shodipo, gave the advice in Uyo at the opening of a two-day training workshop.
Speaking on “Using Budget Data and Freedom of Information Act to Fight Corruption’’, Shodipo said all Nigerians must participate.
The Civil Society Organisations and community were the recipients of the workshop. The tool for fighting corruption in a country is budget tracking. He explained that budget tracking would check abuse of public funds. Approved financial resources meant for specific projects are likely to be diverted without budget tracking,
Shodipo said budget tracking is a constitutional role of lawmakers in the National and States Assemblies. He advised the citizenry not to leave implementations for ministers alone.
“The people must accept the challenge of putting their eyes in budgetary matters. Nigerians stand to gain or lose depending on the steps they take.
“Values for money can’t be realized if the citizens are not concerned with how the budget is being spent.
“Citizens can show enough concern with a view to ensuring that budgets produce value for money,” Shodipo said.
Shodipo noted that citizens’ participation in budget tracking would help translate budget intentions to reality. The ICPC commissioner said that corruption had impacted negatively on the social welfare projects which had a direct bearing on the lives of ordinary people.
Grand corruption arising from the budgetary processes can be curb If something urgent is done to checkmate contractors.
