Oxfam, European Union & German Cooperation trains officials on CDP inclusion in budgeting in Adamawa

Oxfam, European Union & German Cooperation trains 30 officials on CDP inclusion in budgeting in Adamawa

From Umar Dankano, Yola.

In an effort to encourage community oriented good governance, Oxfam Nigeria in collaboration with European Union and German Cooperation (GIZ) have conducted a three day capacity building training workshop for thirty (30) officials of Guyuk local government area in Adamawa state.

The thirty participants selected from the finance, administration and legislative departments of the council were trained on LGA budget preparation and community Development Plan (CDP) inclusion techniques from 15th to 17th December,2025 in Numan town.

Participants were engaged in interactive sessions focused on inclusive planning, priority setting, and strategies for improving social cohesion at the community level.

Speaking at the occasion, Samuel Lashon, Project Coordinator of Oxfam Nigeria explained that, the consultative workshop aimed to strengthening participatory governance by ensuring that Community Development Plans are effectively integrated into Local Government Area budget preparation processes.

Lashon said that the training also gives the community a platform for them to know how to identify their priorities and needs and the development strategies to solving their problems.

“The workshop provides a platform for stakeholders to share experiences, identify common challenges, and propose actionable solutions aligned with local development priorities.

“We emphasized on the importance of collaboration between communities and local authorities in promoting sustainable development and peaceful coexistence in North-East Nigeria”. Lashon reiterated.

Lashon stated that, the 3-day workshop brought together key stakeholders from the participating LGAs, including local government officials, community leaders, civil society organizations, women and youth representatives, and other relevant partners.

He expressed optimism that the citizens engagement policy of the Adamawa state government backed by the community development plans document will no doubt give birth to meaningful projects in the community.

He noted that challenges like insecurity, interference of external forces to hijack the process and lukewarm attitude of the people are being setbacks to the process but was quick to say that they can be tackled.He call on stakeholders to collaborate with development partners to ensure inclusive development approach in governance.

In her remarks, Blessing Yakubu Ahmadu, a facilitator and Consultant with the Bantex Synergy Consults Ltd. said that, the project inclusion workshop was designed to enable priority and needs of the people are captured in community development plans (CDP) in to 2026 budget.

Ahmadu added that the process is to ensure that, a bottom – top approach in decision making and budgeting for local government are attained expressing satisfaction with CDP technique which dwells on coding and tracking needs of the community.

“CDP is an all- inclusive process which once it is used,we are sure of working with the people’s voice or acceptance as we have done in other local government areas including;Maiha,Mubi-North,Mubi South,Michika,Gombi,Demsa,Hong and now in Guyuk Council respectively”. She advocated.

Speaking also, Ahmad Buba Jalo of the Ministry for local government Affairs said that the state government always collaborate with development partners in giving governance impactful meaning which be owned by the people.

Jalo attested that, the ministry has been working assiduously in involving people from communities to participate in activities concerning them and their welfare noting that the training is apt and timely.

“And as we know the CDP plan lasts for five years and we started implementing it in 2018 and we have reached nine local government areas so far.We also have a standing committee which follows up to monitor implementation of the CDP policies as sixty to seventy percentage been recorded in most councils undertaken”. Jalo stressed.

In their separate responses, participants at the training,Philgo Valdema, Director, Works.Guyuk local government area and Hon.Ali Audu, Supervisory Counselor on Education, Guyuk local council viewed the training as “a right step in the right direction” considering the impact and importance of the knowledge acquired.

They both pledged to becoming good ambassadors in changing the narrative
as it concerns inputs in planning and execution of budgets including gender -responsive neutrality in the council.

Daily Hint Correspondent reported that, the workshop with the theme:”The Support to Improving Social Cohesion through Community Development Planning in Three Local Government Areas (LGAs) in North-East Nigeria Project co-funded by the European Union and the German Cooperation (GIZ) concluded with resolutions to strengthen stakeholder engagement and ensure that identified community priorities are reflected in the forthcoming LGA budgets.