Budget Transparency

Nigeria Accountability Mechanism

Tonte Ibraye

White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria

Geneva, 14th January 2014

What is budget transparency?

• Budget Transparency (BT) is defined as the full disclosure of all relevant fiscal information in a timely and systematic manner

• BT is a precondition for public participation in budget processes

• The combination of BT and public participation in budget processes has the potential to combat corruption, foster public accountability of government agencies and contribute to judicious use of public funds (OECD, 2002)

Budget Transparency in Nigeria

• Budget information in Nigeria is scanty or not available at all (OBI 2012)

• Difficult to access information on MNCH Health Budget) (PPP/DDM 2013)

• Implementation of the National Health Account (NHA) lacked involvement of local and national CSOs

• NHA has no budget line to support tracking of expenditure at all levels(Nigeria CAF Baseline 2013)

Important Timelines in Nigeria

• Oct 2012 – Harare Meeting on CoIA

• March 2013 - Development of Life Saving Commodities Implementation Plan

• April 2013 – National Workshop on CoIA Roadmap using Country Accountability Framework (CAF)

Important Timelines Cont…

• January 2013 -White Ribbon Alliance

Strategy Development Workshop

• Lack of budget transparency in MNCH

was identified as a major drawback in

the campaign for MNCH

• Lack of framework to hold health

workers accountable – Cases of

disrespectful and abusive care

including detention in facilities.

CSOs Engagement

• Collaborative effort through a national coalition “Accountability for MNCH in Nigeria (AMHiN)”

• Using the AMHiN platform established ‘Nigeria Independent Accountability Mechanism (NiAM)

• Tracking indicators in line with Nigeria’s CAF Roadmap

• Awareness on improved budget transparency via press releases and media engagement

Proposed Indicators for annual scoring

• Annual publication of NHA expenditure report by FMOH including financial commitment by Development partners

• Active participation of CSOs in the Implementation of the National Health Account (NHA)

• National Health Account (NHA) with dedicated budget line by the FMOH developed and used

AMHiN 2014 Planned Activities

• Development of 2013 MNCH Indicators score cards in line with Nigeria’s CAF Roadmap

• Dissemination of scorecards findings via seminar and media engagement

• Inauguration of 9 member NIAM committee

• Capacity building of CSOs and Media on Health Budget Advocacy

• Consultative meetings between CSOs and Government on NHA and expenditure tracking

Progress in Social Media

Progress in Social Media

Conclusion

• The existence of National Accountability framework will also strengthen ongoing accountability campaigns by CSO’s

• Approved RMC Charter can be used to hold health workers accountable –Discussions with NHRC ongoing

Conclusion…….

#LestWeForget

Finally

Please Do NOT Forget Us