By Chijioke Kingsley
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – The Office of the Citizen, which is a product of Pillar One of #FixPolitics Initiative dedicated to promoting active citizenship in Nigeria, will hold its maiden virtual democracy dialogue on local government administration on June 12, 2024.
This was contained in a statement released on Monday by the Executive Director of #FixPolitics, Dr Anthony Ubani.
“It is an important programme conceived to convene Nigerians and experts in governance to discuss the broken state of politics and governance at the local government level with a view to proffering ideas for strengthening local government administration, promoting good governance and accentuating a more effective and accountable democracy,” the statement read.
The event, themed ‘Promoting Sustainable Development Models for Effective Local Governance’, will attract key stakeholders in governance, social activism, law, public service, civil society and the media.
The stakeholders will examine, among other things, the law suit between the federal and state governments over control of local governments in Nigeria, poor governance at the local government level and ways to restore democracy, good governance, democracy and development at the third tier of government.
Additionally, the panels will explore the role of local governments, the proposal to transfer election oversight to the Independent National Electoral Commission and the call for a truly independent electoral body that respects the wishes of the people.
The dialogue, which commences by 12.00 WAT (7am EST), requires prior registration of participants, speakers and guests to the event via http://ootcnigeria.org/dd
Confirmed speakers at the event include the founder, #FixPolitics, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili; former minister, Frank Nweke II; Convener, Chess In Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya; founder, BudgiT, Seun Onigbinde; founder, Community Life Project, Ngozi Iwere; Nigerian spoken word and performance poetry artiste and author, Dike Chukwumerije; Dr Sam Amadiof Centre for Public Policy and Research; Sesugh Akume of Advocate for Good Governance; as well as Ubani.
Others are founder, Talkademy, Joyce Daniels, and Executive Chairman, Igbogbo-Baiyeku Local Council Development Area, Lagos, Olusesan Daini.
The first panel will be on Education and Awareness, while the second is on Accountability.
“We will look at models that have been working in other nations and what we should be doing as a nation. We will also look at young ones who want to serve the nation and how they should go about it,” Ubani, said.
According to him, the event is expected to catalyse meaningful dialogue and action towards a more autonomous, effective and truly representative system of local government administration in Nigeria, while entrenching the finest principles of democracy, transparency and integrity in constitutional democracy.
