Media urged to sensitise public on national budget

There is need for the media to intensify sensitisation or create public awareness on the national budget to enable the population play an active in its implementation. The call was made by Emmanuel Safari, the Executive Secretary of CLADHO- an umbrella of eight local Human Rights organisations. “If Rwandans are well versed with budget information, they will even have the anxiety of putting an input depending on their needs,” Safari said. He added that, “This will also help or guide government in allocating resources appropriately in regard to what people need in their areas.” Safari said the move would also play a significant role in determining citizen`s tax payment compliance. The Executive Secretary was addressing reporters from various media houses in a workshop aimed at sensitising them on various national budget concerns. In his presentation, Alex Nkurunziza, one of those who carried out the organisation` s survey pointed out that it proved most people do not understand the importance of a national budget, something that limits them from contributing to its draft. “It is very important to identify what people need as it will help in planning for them or their needs,” Nkurunziza said. During the workshop, there was open discussion on the role of media in promoting awareness on the subject. A Radio Contact reporter Jean Baptist Ndabananiye, suggested that although the media can play a crucial role, there is also need to use communal work gatherings to educate the population. Ends

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Media urged to sensitise public on national budget