Association of Small Scale Agro Producers in Nigeria (ASSAPIN) Bauchi State council has tasked ministries, departments and agencies of the Bauchi State Government to ensure transparency and accountability in both budget preparation and implementation processes.
ASSAPIN said through accountability in the budget process, the culture of good governance will be enshrined within the corridors of government for the common good of all citizens.
Executive Director ASSAPIN Bauchi State Chapter, Hajiya Amina Bala Jibrin said this at the Launching Of Influencing Strategy, Farmers Manifesto, Endorsement And Commitment Pledge in Bauchi.
She said it is a well-known fact that democracy is here to promote inclusive and participatory development but for the people at the lower and of the pyramid, their storylines still remain on the ugly side because they remained the most vulnerable victims of poor governance.
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The Executive Director said Jibrin said the document launched is a tool to be used by the people at the grassroots so as to engage and get developmental projects in their domains.
She added that the document will no doubt serve as a guide to them, especially when conducting advocacy saying that any other person also has access to the document in order to achieve the desired objectives for the benefit of all.
Hajiya Amina said that people at the lower level are lacking very basic social amenities, are excluded in almost all the decision-making processes that have to do with them or their immediate environment, having contact with political office holders only during election campaigns and this is largely due to high level of illiteracy on governance processes.
She added that there is a need for government to allocate 10% of its budgetary allocation to the agricultural sector, and that out of the 10%, small-scale farmers should carry at least 60% of it considering their commitments toward providing food security in the country.
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The Executive Director said farmers need schools for their children, health facilities and roads in order to evacuate what they have produced so as to get a better market.
She added that now that the farmers are equipped with the requisite knowledge, they can now give pledge cards to politicians to read and take promises before electing them so that after winning the election the promises taken could be fulfilled.
Also speaking the Bauchi state Head of service Alhaji Yahuza Adamu Haruna encouraged the participants to continue to ensure that projects and programs that will influence people’s life are included when presenting their needs to the government and relevant authorities in order to reduce the rate of challenges faced by the masses.
