LAGOS SEEKS INVOLVEMENT OF CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS IN GOVERNANCE
Lagos State Government has called on Civil Society Organisations, (CSOs), to be actively involved and contribute to the policy- making process in the State, with a promise that the present administration would continue to encourage partnerships necessary for successful implementation of programmes and policies in the interest of residents of the State.
The Special Adviser on Civic Engagement to Governor Ambode, Mr. Kehinde Joseph made the call on Tuesday at stakeholders meeting with the civil society organizations at the Secretariat, Alausa Ikeja, tagged “Stand Up For Someone’s Right Today: Be Your Neighbour’s Watcher.”
He said that the theme was in line with the aspiration of the State Government to bring into focus equity, inclusiveness, responsiveness, justice and rule of law in addition to promotion of peaceful co-existence among residents of the State.
Joseph added that gone are the days when government institutions are always at loggerheads with CSOs, stressing that all Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), CSOs and the Government must now work together in different spheres of governance to ensure effective service delivery to the citizenry, particularly the vulnerable.
“It is the desire of this administration to scale up interaction with your organizations and encourage your participation in the decision making the process so as to give a voice to the people” he stated.
He opined that the good governance being enjoined in the State could be improved upon if the relationship between government and CSOs is strengthened with a view to enhancing good governance in Lagos.
“You will recall that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode embraced “inclusiveness” as a policy so that all could have a say in governance. This participatory approach, it is believed, would spring up a new initiative, generate trust, and engender vigorous political debates which in turn would enhance good governance and sustainable development in the State” the Special Adviser said.
While saying that the government alone cannot deliver on its mandate without the assistance of necessary stakeholders, Joseph said that CSOs as a voice of the voiceless should leverage on the advantage they have in calling the attention of the government to societal ills and any other breaches observed anywhere in the State.
The Special Adviser also urged CSOs to leverage on the platform of the Office of Civic Engagement to bring their contributions, ideas and suggestions on any matter concerning State policies and programmes to the attention of relevant government authorities.
In his contribution, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Civil Engagement, Mr. Taiwo Aiyedun also promised that government will continue to engage CSOs in discussions on issues that would move the State forward.
