By Our Correspondent in Minna
The Secretary to the State Government of Niger (SSG), Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, has stressed the urgent need for citizens to be involved in governance and government activities to ensure good governance.
Alhaji Ibrahim Matane made the call at the NEPAD/AUDA Second Peer Review and Self Assessment Town Hall Meeting which took place at the multi-purpose hall, Government House, Minna, the state capital.
The SSG gave the four major thematic areas of the peer review that he said was required for the involvement of citizens in governance.
The areas, he said, would help foster the adoption of;policies, standards, and practices that could lead to economic growth, sustainable development, political stability, accelerated regional and as well continental economic integration.
While calling on the NEPAD/AUDA National Governing Council to develop a framework for data generation mechanism for the implementation of some of its National Programme of Action, the SSG said it had become imperative for citizens to be involved in governance.
The state government’s scribe told the participants that the state government had followed carefully and completed the questionnaire through a bottom to up and stakeholder-driven processes, stressing that this would do an honest assessment of government activities in the past few years.
Matane, however, urged participants and other stakeholders to the meeting to contribute meaningfully toward the realisation of the crucial aspect of the review process, for maximum benefits to relevant stakeholders.
The National Council Member of NEPAD/AUDA, Abuja, Mrs. Tawakalitu Olayemu Yusuf, had earlier told participants that the objectives of peer review include primarily to foster the adoption of policies and practice that would bring about political stability, high economic growth, and sustainable development across sectors.
Olayemu explained that the peer review assessment was conducted within the framework of four thematic areas, namely; Democracy and Political Governance, Corporate Governance, Economic Growth and Management, and as well Socio-Economic Development.
In address of welcome, the Permanent Secretary (Economic Affairs), Governor’s Office, Malam Yahaya Babawachiko, said the programme was aimed at ensuring effective implementation of Nigeria’s second review process among others.
