n NGO, Civic Impact for Sustainable Development (CISD), on Thursday trained citizens in Kaduna on tracking public funds from budget allocation to implementation.
The training was organised under the Budget Analysis and Civic Engagement Academy, with the theme, “Championing a Dignified Life for All.”
It aimed to equip participants with practical knowledge to analyse Kaduna State’s budget, monitor implementation and engage government on public spending and service delivery.
Mr Seth Kuyet, Co-Chair of the academy, said citizens needed to understand government expenditure classifications to effectively monitor budget implementation.
Kuyet said the National Chart of Accounts provided classifications that enabled citizens to identify who spent public funds, what they were spent on, the source of funds and where projects were located.
He urged citizens to use the classifications to track public resources from allocation through expenditure to project delivery.
“Budget monitoring is not just about knowing the amount allocated. Citizens should understand who is spending the money, what it is being spent on and where the projects are located,” he said.
Mr Adejo Abel, Lead, Citizens Center for Inclusive Development and Sustain Initiative, urged citizens to use quarterly budget performance reports to assess government implementation of approved plans.
Abel advised participants to compare approved budgets with quarterly performance reports to identify gaps in implementation.
He said the first and second quarter budget performance reports for 2026 were available, while the third quarter report was expected soon.
According to him, citizens should base advocacy on official implementation reports rather than hearsay or unverified figures.
Abel urged participants to identify gaps in sectors such as health, education and youth development and engage relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Mr Danjuma Dangwa, Head of the Coalition of Associations for Leadership, Peace, Empowerment and Development, said citizens should assess budgets beyond allocations to determine their actual impact.
Dangwa said effective budget analysis should establish what was budgeted, what was implemented and the benefits derived by citizens.
He urged participants to examine the location and impact of projects and determine whether they addressed the needs of communities.
Dangwa said a large budget allocation did not automatically translate into improved welfare.
He urged citizens to make budget monitoring a continuous civic responsibility and use evidence to engage government constructively.
The facilitators urged participants to apply the knowledge in their communities by monitoring projects, studying budget performance reports and engaging relevant government agencies where gaps were identified.
They said sustained citizen participation in the budget process would strengthen transparency and accountability and improve service delivery across Kaduna State.(NAN)
