By Pwanagba Agabus, Jos
The Bauchi Field Office of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has organised a training on budget tracking, monitoring and analysis for officials of the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU), Budgets and Planning Officers, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) from Gombe, Bauchi and Adamawa states.
UNICEF said that the exercise is aimed at strengthening the capacity of the participants toward ensuring proper budgeting.
Speaking at the event held in Jos the Plateau State Capital, Dr Yusuf Auta, UNICEF’s Social Policy Specialist, said that the training was organised in conjunction with the Gombe State Ministry for Budget and Economic Planning.
‘He said, ‘We are here to strengthen the capacity of EIU officials, budget and planning officers and some selected CSOs from these three states on budget tracking, monitoring and analysis.
”As you know, our interest in UNICEF is on children and women, and over time the budget that affects these category of people usually suffers set backs in terms of funding and allocation.
”We have done some analysis and realise that even at spending stage in the area of basic education, healthcare, social protection and empowerment, seems to be the least in terms of budgeting.
”So, this training will enable the participants to use the knowledge to carry out an analysis and engage the policy makers toward having a more effective budget for critical areas in their respective states,”he said.
In his earlier remarks, the lead facilitator of the training, Mr Yusuf Goje, said that the exercise would enable the participants better understand the basics of their job schedules.
“This will help them analyse the budget from the human angle; the budget should not just be seen from the figures but how it will translate in improving the living standard of the people, particularly women and children”, he explained.
