Nigeria’s Federal Government has encouraged civil society organisations (CSOs) to contribute actively toward improving public service delivery across the country.
The call was made during a citizens’ and stakeholders’ engagement forum held in Abuja, where government officials highlighted the importance of citizen participation in shaping policies and budgets.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, urged CSOs to align their work with official data sources, particularly figures provided by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
He explained that accurate use of government data would help ensure that inputs from civil groups reflect real conditions and challenges in communities.
According to Bagudu, collaboration with CSOs can support better planning and enable government programmes to reach citizens at the ward level more effectively.
He said the federal administration sees civil groups as partners in making governance more accountable and responsive to public needs.
In a presentation delivered at the event, Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Dr. Taminu Yakubu, stressed the central role of citizens in the budget process.
He explained that Nigeria’s Constitution places ownership of public resources in the hands of the people, making their participation in budget preparation essential for transparency and accountability.
Yakubu noted that budgets are not just financial documents but reflect the priorities of a nation.
He added that wider engagement by CSOs and citizens can ensure resources are allocated to areas with the greatest social impact, including education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
The engagement forum forms part of ongoing efforts to expand dialogue between government, citizens, and civil society in order to strengthen trust and improve service delivery nationwide.