Group urges more citizens’ participation in governance

By CHRISTIANA LOT, Jos –

An NGO, YIAGA Africa, has urged residents of Jos North Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau to actively participate in the governance processes in their localities.

The Senior Programme Officer of the organisation, Miss Antonia Onda, made the call at the launch of its project tagged “People’s Assembly” on Wednesday in Jos.

Ms. Onda said that initiative would enable the citizens attract maximum benefits and dividends of democracy to their communities.

She added that the project, supported by Open Society Foundations, an NGO, aimed at promoting participatory democracy at the rural levels.

“The peoples Assembly is a form of deliberative democracy where citizens come together to deliberate on issues that concern them and present resolutions to the government for possible action.

“We have established this in LGAs across 12 states in Nigeria, two per geo-political zones each.

“The essence is to get citizens to take charge of their governance processes by identifying their pressing issues and seeking accountability from government officials through follow ups and advocacies.

“This initiative will teach the people how to bring up their challenges and present them to government in an order of preference.” She said.

Speaking, the Councillor representing Jenta Adamu Ward of Jos North, Mr John kele, thanked YIAGA Africa for the initiative, insisting that active citizen participation in governance would benefit both the people and the leaders.

“I particularly want to commend YIAGA Africa for this initiative, it will further enlighten the citizens on their rights to good governance.

“So this is going to impact positively on the general governance in Jos North and other parts where this initiative has been established.

“And as leaders, we will also try to partner with the citizens and see how good governance will reach the lower levels.” he said.