EFFECT OF CIVIL SOCIETY PARTICIPATION ON THE BUDGET ADMINISTRATION PROCESS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This research work studies the effect of Civil Society participation on Nigeria’s budget administration process from 2019 to 2026, focusing on three National Ministries: Finance and Planning, Education and Health. The absence of Civil Society Participation in the nation’s budget formulation and implementation has become a problem in Nigeria’s economic planning and administration, hence, the public outcry on the lingering hardship and poverty. The major objective of the study is to examine the effect of Civil Society participation in the budget process in Nigeria. The theories employed in the study were Budget Process Theory and Stakeholder Theory. These theories were used to guide the study in examining the importance of Civil Society Participation in the administration of budget process in Nigeria. The research design employed in the study was achieved through a descriptive survey and a correlational research design, which combined both quantitative and qualitative methods. The research involved 100 management staff members and utilized a sample size of 86 respondents. The data was collected through the self-administered questionnaires and structured interviews. For data analysis, thematic examination was used for qualitative data, while quantitative data was processed using descriptive, it was also processed using inferential statistics with SPSS Version 21. The findings indicate a significant lack of Civil Society participation throughout all stages of the budget administration process within the government agencies. It concludes that this lack of participation has led to ineffective budgets, lacking credibility, transparency, and accountability, which by extension adversely affects the quality of basic services and the efficacy of key projects intended to address citizen needs. The study recommends that the government should enhance Civil Society participation in the budget administration process to improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability. Such improvements are envisaged to facilitate better service delivery and ensure that prioritized citizen projects are addressed.