LAGOS, Nigeria — BudgIT Basis, a pan-African civic-tech group advancing transparency and citizen participation, has introduced the top of Abraham Varney’s five-year service as Nation Lead for BudgIT Liberia, emphasizing that he now not holds any position or illustration inside the establishment or its worldwide community.
The announcement, issued Wednesday, September 24, got here because the group sought to make clear what it described as unauthorized claims by Varney, who had urged in current weeks that BudgIT Liberia was now not a part of the Nigerian-based world physique.
In keeping with a press release launched by Abiola Afolabi, Worldwide Progress Supervisor and member of the BudgIT Liberia Board of Trustees, the change aligns with broader organizational restructuring. “BudgIT Basis confirms that Mr. Abraham Varney has concluded his tenure as Nation Lead for BudgIT Liberia and now not holds any position or illustration inside BudgIT Liberia or the broader BudgIT community,” the assertion learn. Afolabi added that Varney had served diligently for 5 years and was instrumental in laying the inspiration of BudgIT’s presence in Liberia.
In July, Varney publicly declared that BudgIT Liberia had transitioned into what he described as “a completely autonomous establishment,” claiming it was now a Liberian-owned and led civil society group impartial of the Nigerian mother or father physique. He characterised the transfer as the start of “a brand new period of localized innovation, sovereign management, and dedication to Liberia’s improvement priorities.” Varney additional asserted that the group remained a legally registered native entity and had ceased all joint initiatives with BudgIT Basis.
However the Basis disputed these assertions, calling them unauthorized and inaccurate. It warned stakeholders to ignore such communications, stressing that they didn’t replicate the precise authorized or institutional standing of the community.
As a part of its restructuring, BudgIT Liberia has reconstituted its Board of Trustees to make sure stronger oversight and adherence to world greatest practices. Oluseun Onigbinde, Co-Founder and Chair of the Board, described the transition as an necessary second of “stability, integrity, and renewed focus.”
He praised the contributions of former management whereas highlighting that the group is now targeted on a forward-looking agenda. “We’re grateful to our regulatory and authorized companions who supported this course of and deeply respect the work of the previous management,” Onigbinde mentioned. “On the identical time, we’re dedicated to charting a course strengthened by our worldwide capability and devoted to equipping residents with the instruments to demand accountability and good governance.”
The group additional disclosed that BudgIT Liberia has accomplished its registration with the Liberia Enterprise Registry as a world nonprofit, a step officers say offers the group stronger authorized standing and operational capability.
Over the previous 5 years, BudgIT Liberia has been credited with making important contributions to governance and transparency within the nation, together with offering technical help for the creation of the Legislative Funds Workplace web site and finishing up public campaigns to advertise finances accountability. The inspiration famous that with its renewed governance construction, BudgIT Liberia is now higher positioned to construct on these achievements and develop its civic-tech initiatives.
The inspiration additionally issued a robust warning towards misrepresentation, stressing that every one official communications are solely performed via its verified web site, liberia.budgit.org, and acknowledged social media platforms. “Monetary establishments, improvement companions, and most people are strongly suggested to ignore any correspondence or representations made by unauthorized people,” the assertion cautioned.
It additional emphasised a zero-tolerance coverage towards misrepresentation and revealed that authorized and regulatory measures can be pursued, the place essential, to guard the integrity of the establishment and its companions.
Regardless of the management shake-up, BudgIT underscored its continued mission to empower residents and strengthen establishments throughout Liberia and West Africa. “Our mission stays resolute: to equip residents with data that drives significant engagement, strengthens establishments, and accelerates improvement,” the inspiration reaffirmed.
