By Patience Ogbodo Correspondent, Bauchi

A Bauchi-based non-governmental organisation, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has called for the streamlining of the composition of the councils established under the Public Procurement and Fiscal Responsibility laws of Bauchi State.

The Executive director of CITAD, Mallam Ya’u Zakariya Ya’u, stated this during a press conference at NUJ secretariat, Bauchi, noting that some provisions of the two laws have to be amended by Executive bills to be sent to the state House of Assembly for the purpose of the amendments.

Ya’u   called on the Bauchi State government to immediately commence the processes of the review and amendment of the two laws by sending bills to the state House of Assembly for the amendments.

He described as outrageous the 30 membership composition on each of the councils established under the two laws, saying that such councils established under similar laws enacted by the federal government were each composed of only 12 members who were mainly civil servants and technocrats unlike the inclusion of politicians as in the case of Bauchi.

He noted that Bauchi was one of the first states in the federation to have domesticated both the Fiscal Responsibility and Public Procurement laws which would have made it to claim leadership position in that regard.

He said: “Bauchi State needs to reclaim the initiative by acting quickly to address the amendment of the two laws and get them fully implemented.” Ya’u also called on the state House of Assembly to initiate a speedy process for consideration of the amendment to the two laws, saying the press is paying more than casual interest in the implementation of the laws and to the general development profile of the state.

He said the state government should commit itself to the full and effective implantation of both the Public Procurement and Fiscal Responsibility laws through the constitution of procurement and fiscal responsibility units as provided in the two laws.

He also called the Bauchi State government to direct all MDAs to set up their procurement offices, appoint procurement coordinators and set up necessary procurement sub-committees of their tender boards, saying: “Government should also print and circulate the Public Procurement and Fiscal Responsibility laws to government officials and to the wider public so as to ensure that officials and citizens know and understand the intentions of these laws.”

He then stressed the need for the state government to develop framework and mechanisms for consultative processes in budget making process so that ordinary citizens could be able to offer their perspectives on how their needs could be addressed.

Other demands of CITAD to the state government included the respect for the autonomy of local government councils to provide them with space to carry out their programmes and activities on the basis of community felt needs and in accordance with constitutional provisions.

He therefore called on the Bauchi State government to mainstream gender and disability in all development processes, especially through economic and political empowerment and appropriate affirmative action for women.

By Patience Ogbodo,  Correspondent, Bauchi     

The Chief of Party RTI/LEAD International, a USAID-sponsored project, Mr. Don Seufert says the partnership between his organisation and Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), a Bauchi-based NGO is to strengthen democratic local governance in Bauchi State.

Seufert stated this while speaking at the certificate presentation ceremony to 85 LG staff trained by CITAD on Computer study.

He observed that the training will motivate them to utilize the knowledge acquired for effective service and self-growth.

“For LEAD and the partners (CITAD & CLGAs) it will improve local government operations and management system leading to increased transparency in the local governments operation which is of the Lead programme objective.”

He described the occasion as very important for Lead, the beneficiaries and CITAD, expressing optimism that the knowledge and skill acquired during the training would when put to use improve local government operations and management system.

Seufert explained that the mandate of CITAD is to develop the capacity of local government staff in information technology with the aim of improving LGA documentation, communication & information sharing, as well as retrieval of information.

Speaking earlier, the CITAD Executive director, said CITAD has trained 85 staff in four local governments of Bauchi, Katagum, Ningi and Dass in Microsoft word, excel, power point, and the use of internet in the last two months. He  noted that its only when the graduands use the knowledge acquired effectively that it would bear fruits, and justify the investments their organizations have made into putting the program in place.

Ya’u described ICT as a dynamic sector and server change, as what CITAD did during the training was the introduction of participants to some ideas and skills, hence the need for them to build interests and update themselves so as to acquire new skills and keep up with the technology.

“We do not think that what we have given you is what you will remain stagnant wit, we believe that you continue to periodically update, up-grade, improve, and always be with the current ideas and knowledge in the field so that they can drive maximum benefit in it.

By Patience Ogbodo,  Correspondent, Bauchi

The world today is a global village, no little thanks to Information and Communications Technology. The craze to “belong” among those that have it has set nations and peoples hobnobbing even with those they would have used the proverbial long spoon in dining with. And the reason is not far fetched, seeing that developed countries rely on ICT for their advancement and every sector of the economy is driven with technology.

Not taking it serious is condemning oneself to slow pace of development, if at all.

In an effort to ensure that Bauchi people acquire adequate knowledge on information technology, a non-governmental organisation, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has commenced senstization training for local government staff in the state.

CITAD which is supported by RTI/LEAD, a USAID sponsored project, works in four champion local government areas of the state with the aim of sensitizing local government staff and other stakeholders, especially the chief security officers in various communities on the use of Information and Communications Technology for effective delivery.

Other objectives of the programme is also to increase  the capacity of local organizations by strengthening the organizational and service capacity, and increasing transparency of local government operations.

Speaking during the sanitization workshop which was organized for local government staff in Ningi and Dass Local Government Areas,  the programme officer of CITAD, Isa Garba said  the training is to equip the participants on MC – word, Excel, internet utilization, and other applications that complement effective carrying out of the daily activities of local government staff.

Garba said: “As you know the world is a global village, the training will equip them as well as prepare them for the training that will be coming up after the sensitization in the next two to three weeks.

“Been a sponsored programme by USAID through RTI/LEAD  which has been  operating in four champion local government areas in Bauchi State, namely Bauchi, Ningi, Katagum and Dass.”

While stressing that the training on ICT is particularly for the local government staff of the four councils, Garba revealed that it may be extended to other local government areas depending on the decision of RTI/LEAD that supports them.

“The first phase is to sensitize them on the theory aspect so that they can perform better in the practical training  that will come up soon; we will organize three months training for them after the sensitization training.

”He then appealed  to the participants to keep pace with all the presentations, and hoped that it would be an eye opener and free them from any fears they may have had about learning and practising computer knowledge. He expressed confidence that beneficiaries of the training programme would make proper utilization of the skills to be acquired during the seminar.

By Patience Ogbodo, Correspondent, Bauchi

The Chief of Party RTI/LEAD International, a USAID-sponsored project, Mr. Don Seufert says the partnership between his organisation and Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), a Bauchi-based NGO is to strengthen democratic local governance in Bauchi State.

Seufert stated this while speaking at the certificate presentation ceremony to 85 LG staff trained by CITAD on Computer study.

He observed that the training will motivate them utilize the knowledge acquired for effective service and self-growth.

“For LEAD and the partners (CITAD & CLGAs) it will improve local government operations and management system leading to increased transparency in the local governments operation which is of the Lead programme objective.”

He described the occasion as very important for Lead, the beneficiaries and CITAD, expressing optimism that the knowledge and skill acquired during the training would when put to use improve local government operations and management system.

Seufert explained that the mandate of CITAD is to develop the capacity of local government staff in information technology with the aim of improving LGA documentation, communication & information sharing, as well as retrieval of information.

Speaking earlier, the CITAD Executive director, said CITAD has trained 85 staff in four local governments of Bauchi, Katagum, Ningi and Dass in Microsoft word, excel, power point, and the use of internet in the last two months.

He  noted that its only when the graduands use the knowledge acquired effectively that it would bear fruits, and justify the investments their organizations have made into putting the program in place.
Ya’u described ICT as a dynamic sector and server change, as what CITAD did during the training was the introduction of participants to some ideas and skills, hence the need for them to build interests and update themselves so as to acquire new skills and keep up with the technology.

“We do not think that what we have given you is what you will remain stagnant wit, we believe that you continue to periodically update, up-grade, improve, and always be with the current ideas and knowledge in the field so that they can drive maximum benefit in it.

By Patience Ogbodo, Correspondent, Bauchi

A Bauchi State-based non-governmental organization, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has said that persistent delayed commencement of budget implementation in the state leads to recurring late presentation, passage, and its assent.

Addressing a press conference in Bauchi weekend, CITAD Director, Ya’u Zakariyya Ya’u said because constitutionally and conventionally the budget year starts from January 1 – December 31, all processes of consideration of the state appropriation bill including its assent by the governor should be completed within the stipulated period.

Yau said that it is in line with it’s commitment to consultative processes in the development and governance that its partner, Bauchi Coalition for Improvement of Public Expenditure Management (BACIPEM) undertook series of community needs assessment in various communities across local governments in Bauchi state.

He explained that the forum has helped communities to identify and articulate their development priorities which it distilled and published in its Community Development Charter.

The Director  gave key areas of common concern and interest for the communities as education, rural infrastructure, poverty alleviation programmes and women issues as encapsulated in the charter.

He then  called for the amendment of some provisions in both the public Procurement Law and Fiscal Responsibility Law of the state to make them fit for effective implementation.

He  also spelt out the coalition demands to the Bauchi State government which include quick presentation of the 2013 appropriation bill to the State House of Assembly to ensure early consideration and passage of the budget to avoid delay in implementation.

The organization wants the state government consolidate and sustain the consultative process with citizens and their groups on development and governance issues in the state, and reflect key priorities of communities as in the Community Development Charter. He also wants the Bauchi state government to develop partnership with civil society groups for effective monitoring and implementation of the budget.

He stressed the need for the state government to conduct local government elections in the state to ensure citizens elect their representatives.

He said, “Bauchi State House of Assembly should support proposal for constitution amendment to grant local government autonomy, and equally support for granting the Houses of Assembly financial autonomy.”

By Patience Ogbodo-Iwuagwu Correspondent, Bauchi

The Bauchi State Information Commissioner, Salihu Ibrahim Halilu, says the social media have the potential to facilitate dialogue, exchange of information and ideas, and to organize and galvanize for collective action.

Halilu stated this during a training workshop on the use of social media for peace campaign organized by a non-governmental organisation,  Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), held at River Hedge Hotel Bauchi.

He also noted that social media networks are very active in defending social, environmental and political rights, freedom of the press, as well as denouncing human rights abuses.

He explained that social media and mobile communication plays significant role in transforming virtual ideas into public action, as it also allows access to information not intended in corporate media in the preparation of peace in the society.

Halilu said social media  sites and tools could be effectively and positively used for public mobilization and campaign for peace and community integration, as well as for harmony and social cohesiveness.

He pointed out that youths have the potential to build cross cultural links with other religions, ethnicities and backgrounds through the use of social media and popular means of interaction.

The commissioner also noted that social media have created spaces for more people than at anytime past in the history to become engaged with important issues of our time.

“They have made a significant and enduring difference to the way people organize for social and political activism, create economic opportunities, facilitate disaster response, link networks across national divides, and share previously inaccessible information and knowledge”, he added.