Kogi NGOs Network (KONGONET) has described the ongoing auctioning of state-owned properties as unacceptable.
KONGONET made this known in its quarterly press release signed by Idris Ozovehe Muraina and Henry Hellen, chairperson and secretary respectively.
In the press release issued in Lokoja on Tuesday, KONGONET observed with dismay the ongoing auctioning of state-owned properties without wider consultation with stakeholders.
Public auctioning of unspecified government-owned assets held at the Arewa House, Kaduna on August 11. The licensed auctioneer, Alhaji Friday Idachaba of Hamif Real Estate Nigeria Ltd, told newsmen after the event described auctioned properties as “non-essential assets”.
“There is still a lack of periodic interaction with the State Government and citizens to discuss matters of state importance. Civil Society looks forward for this to be addressed.”
KONGONET also called on the state government to swiftly put in place a committee to unravel the misery behind the astronomical increment on agricultural/consumer goods across the state and proffer immediate, mid-term and long-term solutions to them.
“The worrisome and persistent increase in the prices of food commodities across the state leaves lots of questions unanswered in regards to the capacity of relevant government MDAs to act and respond sufficiently to issues of pressing need of Kogites.
“Again, the need for a concise, participatory youth and women in agriculture policy to harness the numerical value of these groups in improving the state food security and alleviating the daunting poverty in our communities cannot be over emphasized,” the press release stated.
The Network decried failure of Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) to release breakdown of local government elections conducted nine months ago.
While describing the situation as undemocratic, KONGONET called on the Kogi State House of Assembly to compel the electoral commission to make public the December 12, 2020 council election results break down.
They also expressed concerns that the consistent push by KONGONET and several other organizations for Kogi State Government to sign-on to Open Government Partnership (OGP) has not yielded results.
“We recommend that the state government should Sign-On to Open Government Partnership (OGP) to create avenue for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and citizens of Kogi State interact and document developmental strides of the government based on her social contract with citizen.”
Kogi NGOs Network (KONGONET) is a coalition of Civil Society Networks championing the promotion of participatory democracy, good governance/best practices, accountable governance and network coordination in Kogi State through advocacy and policy influencing for the well-being of Kogites.
