Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf has assured civil society organizations (CSOs) of sustained collaboration to ensure responsive governance in the state.
Speaking at the 2-day Retreat For State Legislators and Civil Society on ‘Participatory and Inclusive Governance Through Effective Constituency Offices’ in Lokoja on Thursday, Yusuf assured that lawmakers in the 8th Kogi State Assembly will “do things differently”.
The retreat was organized by Initiative For Grassroot Advancement In Nigeria (INGRA) in collaboration with Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The Speaker said involving civil society in the legislative process enhances public participation because through consultations, public hearings, and open forums, lawmakers can gather input from a diverse array of stakeholders.
“This inclusivity helps ensure that policies we make reflect the needs and aspirations of the entire population, which will, in turn, foster a sense of ownership and legitimacy.
“We also understand that the civil society acts as a watchdog, monitoring the implementation of laws and policies. Collaboration with the legislative branch allows the CSOs to provide independent assessments and evaluations of government programs. This oversight helps identify areas of success and those needing improvement, holding lawmakers accountable for their decisions.
“We understand that our responsibility firstly concerns formulation of policies, oversight and the use of our legislative powers to bargain for and lobby what would improve the lives of our people, but we also know we cannot do this effectively without collaboration,” he said.
“Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) often possess valuable expertise and knowledge on various social, economic and environmental issues,” he said.
Yusuf pledged that the CSOs in Kogi State were going to enjoy a more robust and symbiotically rewarding relationship with the 8th Assembly in Kogi State.
Also speaking in his goodwill message, Amb. Idris Ozovehe Muraina Chairperson, Kogi NGOs Network (KONGONET) said the network is working hand-in-hand with the Legislature to ensure that citizens of Kogi State receive the best of representation and benefits.
“As representatives of the people, we believe that collaboration between the government and CSOs is vital in achieving our shared goal of good governance, sustainable development and a prosperous future for all Kogi residents.
“By combining our expertise, resources and experiences, we can collectively address the multifaceted challenges faced by our state and find innovative solutions for a brighter future,” Muraina assured.
Programmes Officer of Initiative for Grassroot Advancement (INGRA), Ikechukwu Mpama, who presented the overview of the State Level Advocacy and Legislative Engagement Forum, said it was a six-month project spanning from October this year to March, 2024.
The Programme Officer said that the objectives of the project include, among others, to engender more robust gender sensitive and citizenry inclined budgeting, development of a functional citizenry, enhancement of capacities of the state legislators and supporting citizens’ participation in budgetary processes.
