Upholding good governance through public participation

Alhaji Mai-Mala Buni, the Special Adviser to Yobe State governor on Political Affairs and Legislative Matters, who shares the views of Georg Buchner, brought his wealth of experience to bare when his office introduced a stakeholders’ interactive forum between government and elders/stakeholders in the state.  The forum was designed to promote participatory governance and bring […]

Alhaji Mai-Mala Buni, the Special Adviser to Yobe State governor on Political Affairs and Legislative Matters, who shares the views of Georg Buchner, brought his wealth of experience to bare when his office introduced a stakeholders’ interactive forum between government and elders/stakeholders in the state.  The forum was designed to promote participatory governance and bring government closer to the people thereby making democracy tick and interesting.

For the people of Yobe state, the forum has given them ample opportunity to contribute in running the administration of the state for accountability and, a service delivery oriented government geared towards improving the lives of the people.

So far, stakeholders and citizens alike, have via the forum made inputs into the governance of the state by way of suggestions on the peculiar needs of their individual communities. On the other hand, government had had the opportunity of obtaining first hand information directly from the people.

According to the adviser, “the essence of the forum is for government to intervene directly” in areas of urgent need of the communities with a view of improving the lives of the people and, fast tracking development in the rural communities”. “Government places much emphasis on accountability and probity and, the forum provides the opportunity to explain government’s expenditure on projects and programmes with a room for comments from the stakeholders” he said.

The forum was not only in tandem but, supports the position of Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, who declared during his swearing in ceremony on 29th May, 2011 that he will run a government of accountability and social justice. He assured the people that his administration will promote good governance, accountability and social justice in the state so as to take Yobe to enviable heights of development.

The stakeholders had therefore used the opportunity provided by the forum to ask for government intervention into critical areas of need, in their communities. For the people of Damaturu metropolis, their priority needs include township roads, housing accommodation, healthcare, education and water supply and therefore prayed for government to provide them with these infrastructures.

Today, Damaturu has migrated from being a state capital with only four tarred roads and one round about, to a metropolis of many streets with well constructed roads and drainages. The 18 km ring road had decongested traffic within Damaturu and grossly reduced rate of accidents in the state capital.

The taking over of the N3.6 billion Damaturu regional water project from the federal government for completion by Yobe government, was indeed a clear testimony of government’s commitment to providing a lasting solution to water problems in Damaturu metropolis.

Other parts of the state with water problems are currently benefitting from the 55 million USD projects. The provision of water to 330 communities across the state is by no means a worthy investment into projects of direct bearing to the lives of the people. With over 1,000 houses constructed in the state capital, the problem associated with accomodation has been reduced substantially.

Government’s gesture of providing 65 per cent subsidy on the newly constructed houses which were allocated to civil servants on owner/occupier basis was indeed a humanitarian programme.

This gesture has made civil servants and other beneficiaries of the houses to be proud house owners before retirement from service. They are particularly happy that they pay off the houses with little or no stress. This unprecedented effort of providing affordable housing for the people earned the governor and government of Yobe state award of excellence from ‘Fesadeb’ in partnership with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.

Similarly, the over 200 kilometre Trans -Sahara Road under construction which cuts across seven local government areas will expose over 200 communities to economic growth and prosperity.  The principle of transparency exhibited by the incumbent administration has undoubtedly placed it on a higher pedastal of accountability than any other administration in the 21 years of the state.

Perhaps this explains why the people of Yobe including those who share different political ideology with the ruling party have placed their faith in a government which has opened its doors for participation, contributions and constructive criticisms intended to push the state forward.

For the Special Adviser, whose office initiated the forum “No doubt, the stakeholders forum in Yobe has provided the platform for people to participate and assist government with honest advice that will help in fast tracking development in the state and, we have all seen the practical benefits of faster development in Yobe”.

Abdallah can be reached on [email protected]