Public Participation in Local Government Budgeting in Akwa Ibom State: A Study of Uyo Local Government Area

This study investigates the extent and effectiveness of public participation in local government budgeting processes in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, South South Nigeria. Participatory budgeting has been internationally recognized as a democratic tool that improves budget transparency, ensures resource allocation reflects community priorities, and enhances citizen accountability of public officials. Despite growing discourse on participatory governance in Nigeria, budget preparation in most local government areas remains a closed administrative process dominated by technocrats and political appointees. The study employs a descriptive survey design, with data gathered from 200 respondents including residents, civil society representatives, market associations, and local government budget officers. The Participatory Democracy Theory and the Open Government Partnership Framework provide the theoretical grounding. Secondary data includes Akwa Ibom State Budget Office documents, Uyo Local Government annual financial statements, and recent academic literature on participatory governance in Nigeria. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis are employed. Findings are expected to reveal minimal community involvement in budget preparation and a significant disconnect between budgeted priorities and community-expressed needs. Recommendations include institutionalization of ward-level budget consultations, publication of simplified budget documents in accessible language, and mandatory community feedback sessions after budget implementation in Uyo. Keywords: Public participation, budgeting, local government, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.