Constituency Projects: Stakeholders make case for community Interest Projects

From , Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

     Stakeholders on good governance drawn from Government, Civil Society Organisations, Religious Bodies and the Media, have stressed the need for the execution of community interest based projects capable of having direct impact on the lives of citizens.

    They made this position known at a Round Table Discussion on Constituency Projects in Kogi State, held Saturday in Lokoja, organised by Stallion Times Media Services and funded by MacArthur Foundation.

    According to them, “People should be given the opportunity to make their input in projects initiated by their representatives at all levels, because they know what they want and what suits them best. We want  communities to always strive to take ownership of projects made available to them.

    “Community engagement in project planning and execution is very crucial and should therefore, not be left in the hands of their representatives alone.

  “Citizens have the right to monitor projects implemented within their constituents in order to ensure proper utilisation of funds released to their representatives for that purpose” they emphasized.

     The Stakeholders, also called on communities across the three Senatorial Districts of Kogi State, to ensure effective monitoring and implementation of  constituency Projects by their representatives as to the functionalities of their offices.

    However, the Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, on Media, Ismaila Isah, gave assurance that the present administration in the state would not relent in sustaining accountability and transparency in service delivery.

      He said, “projects diversion by officials trusted to them will not be tolerated under the present administration. Such act is a serious crime that will attract punishment irrespective of who you are. Kogi Government will continue to promote citizens engagement on Constituency Projects”.

    On his part, the Project Coordinator of Stallion Times Media Services, Isiyaku Ahmed, welcomed the participants and highlighted the objectives of the forum which include; Promoting Citizens Engagement in Initiating Constituency Projects; Encouraging Community Ownership of Constituency Projects and Mutually Concrete Tracking & Monitoring Template for Constituency Projects respectively.

    Also, Ambassador Idris Ozovehe Muraina, Co-Chair, Non-State Actors (NSA), Kogi State, Open Government Partnership (OGP), therefore, called on politicians and other citizens of Nigeria to embrace the practice of true democracy.

     He added that, “Nigerians should live up to their responsibilities in holding our leaders both in the Executive and Legislative Arm of Governments accountable to their mandate”