The newly elected National Coordinator of the Civil Society Budget Implementation Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (CBIAMEC), Comrade Patrick Onomuodeke, has pledged to strengthen evidence based monitoring of budget implementation across Nigeria.
Onomuodeke made the commitment in a statement issued on Sunday following his inauguration as the national coordinator, saying the committee would promote credible budget assessment, monitoring and evaluation, while encouraging citizen participation, transparency and accountability.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Onomuodeke said CBIAMEC would focus on bridging the gap between government budgetary allocations and actual outcomes by tracking the release and utilisation of public funds.
He said the committee would assess whether government projects were executed according to approved plans, met required standards and delivered their intended benefits to communities.
“The true measure of a budget is not simply what is appropriated on paper, but what is actually implemented and what impact that implementation has on the people,” he said.
The new national coordinator said CBIAMEC would operate as an independent, professional, non partisan, evidence driven and inclusive platform.
He added that the committee would strengthen collaboration among civil society organisations, government institutions, the media, academic institutions and development partners to improve public accountability.
Onomuodeke identified grassroots monitoring, evidence based reporting, citizen engagement, transparency and accountability as key priorities of his administration.
He said the committee would also strengthen the capacity of its members in budget analysis, project tracking, social accountability, monitoring and evaluation, data collection, advocacy and reporting.
He further disclosed that CBIAMEC would embrace digital tools, open data, community reporting mechanisms and Geographic Information Systems to improve the effectiveness and accuracy of its monitoring activities.
Onomuodeke stressed that CBIAMEC was not established to fight government but to promote accountability and better governance through constructive engagement and evidence based advocacy.
“Where government performs well, we should acknowledge and commend it. Where there are gaps, we should identify them objectively and make constructive recommendations,” he said.
He urged civil society organisations across the country to regard CBIAMEC as a platform for collaboration rather than competition, noting that the challenges facing Nigeria required coordinated efforts and stronger networks.
The national coordinator also called for deeper partnerships between civil society organisations and government, saying civil society could help identify implementation challenges, improve service delivery and draw attention to gaps affecting citizens.
Onomuodeke pledged to uphold integrity, transparency, fairness, professionalism, inclusiveness and accountability in the discharge of his responsibilities.
He said the success of CBIAMEC would depend on the commitment of its leadership, members, state and local structures, development partners and citizens.
He urged stakeholders to support the committee in monitoring public resources without fear or favour and ensure that findings were reported based on facts and integrity.
He said the ultimate objective of the committee was to ensure that public resources delivered measurable value to Nigerians and help close the gap between government budgets and the services and projects citizens ultimately receive.
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