Citizen Participation in Health Budget Process: Trends and Patterns with Particular Reference to Enugu State of Nigeria

Abstract

This study looked at Citizen Participation in Health Budget Process: Trends and Patterns in Enugu state of Nigeria. The study's objectives included exploring citizens’ perception of the factors that influence the release of funds in the State, their level of participation, and knowledge about the goals of citizen participation in the budget process. Respondents were 398 in number (198 males and 200 females), inclusive of 40 civil and public servants. The two sets of questionnaire were used to collect data (One set for the public and civil servants; and the other set for the general public. Results reveal that the factors that influence the release of funds include, among others, poor allocation and release of funds from federal sources and weak political commitment. The results also reveal that citizens are not openly and substantially involved in the health budget process, and their level of knowledge regarding the government’s goal in citizen participation in the budget process is poor. The findings from this study will inform the development of advocacy packages to the government towards greater and meaning engagement of the citizens in the budget process. The advocacy packages might give the necessary voice to the people, which are required to strengthen efforts towards the attainment of Universal Health Coverage, as well as generate useful data which will serve as a guide for future interventions.