Youth groups in Akwa Ibom State have asked governments at all levels and their agencies to openly share their budgets, project timelines, and expenditures to promote transparency and accountability in community development.
The call was made in Uyo during a one-day workshop titled “Youth-led Stakeholders Engagement on Transparency and Accountability for Improved Development in Host Communities.” The event was organised by the Clement Isong Foundation (CIF) in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria under the Strategic Partnership Agreement II (SPA II).
In a communique signed by CIF’s Executive Director, Elkanah Oluyori, the youths requested more funding for youth-led monitoring initiatives to independently track development projects in their communities.
They also recommended community-based monitoring systems, real-time reporting, and feedback channels for projects across local government areas, saying these would strengthen development and accountability.
The communique urged corporate organisations and Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) to adopt transparent reporting practices such as publishing quarterly updates on project progress, procurement processes, and community benefits. It stressed the need for youth, women, and other marginalized groups to be fully involved in planning and decision-making.
It further called for expanded civic education and training to help young people develop skills for monitoring public spending and holding corporate bodies accountable.
On environmental issues in oil-producing areas, the communique emphasized the importance of proper clean-up after extraction activities. It urged oil companies to take responsibility for environmental restoration and called for stronger regulations to enforce clean-up obligations.
The forum concluded that both community members and stakeholders play key roles in ensuring the safety and development of their communities.
