By Emma Una

CALABAR—A COALITION of 28 civil society groups in Cross River State has called on Governor Ben Ayade to involve non-state actors especially, members of civil society groups, in the budget and contract procurement processes in the state, for positive impact on citizens.

Speaking through Mr Basey Ibor, Director of Centre for Community Empowerment and Peace  Initiative, CCEPI, told Vanguard that the 28 civil society groups decided to  form a coalition to monitor the budgeting and contract award processes in the state because the ordinary people were the most affected by impacts of negative policies and failed government projects.

He said: “Procurement and budget processes are meant to build the capacity of the people and provide a platform for development. For these reasons, the processes must be transparent and free of corruption. Lack of transparency in the budgeting and procurement processes will cause development agencies funding projects in communities  and urban areas in the state to withhold their funds. When this happens it will further halt development in the state.

“We have at least one civil society organisation working in each local government area which will in turn train others in the communities on how to monitor government projects and prgrammes especially those funded by donor agencies to ensure that the jobs are properly executed for the benefit of the people.

“In the past two seasons, the state government had not engaged civil societies and the public in the budgeting process. This is quite worrisome as people are not aware of what is being budgeted for to know how to  monitor the execution of  such projects.”