UNICEF has trained U Reporters in Bauchi State on budgetary allocation to enhance children’s and young people’s lives.
Mr. Opeyemi Olaguju, communication officer at the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, emphasised that young advocates are crucial in influencing resource allocation for children and youth.
He encouraged U Reporters to actively promote good governance and advocate for increased investment in child-sensitive sectors.
A representive of the Bauchi State Ministry of Budget, Planning, and Multilateral Coordination, Alhaji Abubakar Sadik Usman highlighted that the state budget belongs to the citizens.
He explained that the training session aimed to equip participants with essential knowledge of budget planning and execution.
Alhaji Sadik stressed the importance of young people’s voices in ensuring equitable budget proposals, especially in allocating more resources to child-focused sectors.
He also assured participants that the ministry’s door remains open to receiving complaints and inputs to develop a widely accepted and effective state budget.
In her presentation, the session facilitator, Mrs. Sophie Safratu Bako, explained that a budget is essentially a plan for the allocation, expenditure, and control of a country’s financial resources over a year, saying in Nigeria, this encompasses all sectors of human development.
She outlined the government’s budget objectives, which include investing in key areas such as education, health, security, and infrastructure; ensuring economic stability by regulating inflation and reducing unemployment; addressing inequality by supporting vulnerable groups; and promoting public accountability and transparency to foster national development.
Mrs. Safaratu Bako encouraged the young advocates to raise their voices during budget planning, stressing that their involvement can help prioritise children and youth sectors and ensure effective monitoring of expenditures for sustainable development.
