The Federal Government, through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Community Engagement, North Central, has launched the ‘Citizens’ Assembly’ aimed at tackling community problems and fostering an inclusive society.
The citizens’ assembly volunteers were inaugurated at a town hall meeting on Wednesday in Lokoja. The event was organized by the Office of the SSA on Community Engagement in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
In her remarks, the SSA to the President on Community Engagement, North Central, Mrs. Abiodun Essiet, explained that the citizens’ assembly was established to collectively address community problems and promote an inclusive society where every voice is heard.
According to her, the launch represents a significant milestone in the nation’s journey towards fostering inclusivity and grassroots representation in governance.
She emphasized that community engagement is crucial for building trust between the Federal Government and its citizens.
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“It establishes a direct connection, ensuring that the voices of the people are heard and considered in the corridors of power.
“To gain a clearer insight into the challenges facing our grassroots, we conducted a survey in March 2024 involving 166 respondents from the North Central region, including Abuja, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau states.
“The findings revealed a significant disconnect between the Federal Government and local communities.
“For instance, 48.2% of participants perceive a lack of engagement from the Federal Government. 78.3% feel unrepresented in the government’s policies and decision-making processes.
“62.1% consider community engagement organizations effective. 68.7% believe the government does not consult with local communities before implementing projects.
“However, nearly 90% believe that co-creation can lead to more sustainable and contextually relevant solutions.
“These findings clearly indicate a substantial gap in trust and communication between the Federal Government and local communities, a gap stemming from unfulfilled promises by successive governments over the past 25 years since the return to democratic rule,” she said.
Essiet stressed that the citizens’ assembly would bridge this gap by enabling citizens to engage with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to improve governance and promote national cohesion through strategic engagement.
She stated, “The purpose of our meeting today is threefold: to listen, inform, and collaborate.
“We are here to listen to your concerns, challenges, and aspirations. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us understand what is working and where we need to do more.
“We want to keep you informed about the ongoing and upcoming initiatives.
“Transparency is key to good governance, and it is our duty to ensure that you are fully aware of the steps being taken to improve your lives.
“We need the support, ideas, and active participation of every citizen to drive the change we all desire. Together, we can create sustainable solutions that reflect our collective will and shared goals.”
She urged other government appointees and elected leaders to take a cue from this initiative and replicate the model in their respective communities, states, and regions for our collective prosperity as a nation.
On his part, the State Director of NOA, Mr. Abdulganiyu Dare, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to ensuring swift information dissemination, stakeholder engagement, and project participation, among other responsibilities.
Dare stated that the agency was collaborating with the Office of the SSA to the President on Community Engagement as part of its mandate to inform the public about the Federal Government’s policies and programs.
He emphasized that the citizens’ assembly offers a tremendous opportunity for citizen engagement, dialogue, collaboration, and peaceful resolution.
While inaugurating the volunteers, Mr. Abdulraheem Sanni, a member representing Ajaokuta Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, commended the Federal Government for the initiative.
Sanni urged the volunteers to serve their communities with humility and integrity and contribute meaningfully to grassroots development.
Prof. Salisu Usman, the Guest Speaker at the event, commended President Tinubu for his transformational policies aimed at rebuilding the nation. However, Usman urged Tinubu to urgently address the hunger caused by subsidy removal.
He also called on the Federal Government to be fair and just in its anti-corruption fight and to promptly address the issue of ‘perceived selective justice.’
Volunteers were selected to represent at least one ward across the six states in the North Central Region and the FCT.
The stakeholders present included youth and women groups, artisans, students, security agencies, and people with disabilities (PWDs), among others.
