A Civil Society Organisation, Niger Delta Budget Monitoring Group, in collaboration with a non-governmental organisation, OXFAM, has canvassed criminalisation of budget violation and indiscipline to be criminalised in Nigeria.

The group, also known as NDEBUMOG, explained that until harsh sanctions were meted out on budget implementation violators, Nigerians in elected and appointed positions would not take fiscal responsibility seriously.

The group’s position is contained in a communique issued at the end of a two-day advocacy roundtable on civic inclusion, budget monitoring, transparency, accountability, gender inclusion and alliance building held in Uyo, the Akwa, Ibom State capital.

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The communiqué signed by its drafting team, Ebere Chikezie, Stiv Obodoekwe, Adeyemi Folake and Titilayo Sarakiri, indicated that fiscal entities should begin to synergise with CSOs and communities for inclusive and effective monitoring of projects’ implementation as a way of optimising budget performance.

“Fiscal entities should begin to synergise with CSOs and communities for inclusive and effective monitoring of project implementations.

“Since budget document is an Act of Parliament, violation of its contents should attract serious sanctions, while budget indiscipline should be criminalised.

“The  executive   should   publish   and   share,  on   a   quarterly   basis,   budget performance reports, as well as list of contracts to be awarded, giving its contents, locations, and other relevant information on each project’s performance to enhance transparency.