A two-day capability constructing coaching for native authorities councils held in Adamawa state deal with the disconnect between public assets and public profit on the grassroots degree.
Organised by Highlight for Transparency and Accountability Initiative (Highlight NG) with help from the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF), the workshop moved past routine classes to deal with why native governments, the closest tier to residents stay the weakest hyperlink in service supply.
Organisers mentioned for communities in Northeast Nigeria nonetheless dealing with battle, displacement, and {economic} hardship, ineffective governance has actual penalties which incorporates underfunded colleges, poor well being centres, and crumbling infrastructure.
Muazu Alhaji Modu, CEO of Highlight NG, mentioned the coaching was a part of broader efforts to strengthen accountability and citizen engagement on the native degree.
“Native authorities performs a important function in delivering primary social providers,” Modu said.
A useful and accountable system is crucial for significant enhancements. This is the reason we’re intentionally investing in transparency, accountability, and energetic citizen participation,” he mentioned.
He mentioned the workshop mixed governance principle with sensible instruments, together with {financial} transparency frameworks and civic expertise like Bayani AI.
“This twin method addressed each the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ of accountability shifting past advocacy to construct technical capability whereas confronting institutional cultures that maintain opacity,” he mentioned.
He mentioned individuals engaged candidly, brazenly interrogating {financial} discrepancies, reflecting on institutional weaknesses, and committing to measurable reforms; a shift from passive compliance to energetic possession.
Civic expertise can democratise oversight by simplifying entry to public finance information.
Nevertheless, organisers famous that expertise alone is inadequate.
Its influence depends upon establishments’ willingness to embrace transparency and residents’ potential to meaningfully interact with information.
The coaching reaffirms a elementary fact: significant nationwide growth requires useful native governance.