By Correspondent in Lokoja.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo, has explained the rationale behind the appointment of 717 Ward Special Assistants by the Governor of the State, Alh. Usman Ododo.
The Commissioner, while briefing newsmen on Thursday, in Lokoja said the appointments were made to “deepen democracy and ensure participatory governance among the grassroots population,” assuring the people of the Governor’s determination to empower them.
“The Governor is determined to ensure grassroots participation in governance. He doesn’t want to be detached from the hopes and aspirations of the grassroots. We have learned from past experiences and should be able to apply those lessons.
“In the past, many Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants who were appointed lived in the state capital and did not engage with the grassroots. There was a gap between the pulse of the grassroots and the government’s impression. But with this novel appointment strategy, the people at the grassroots are already jubilant over the commendable inclusive governance.
“Those appointed are residents of their respective wards. They don’t live outside their wards and will be the foot soldiers of the Government in achieving the Consolidation Agenda of the Ododo Administration.”
Fanwo also explained that the high number of appointees does not translate to a high cost of governance, stating that the salaries of three Ward Special Assistants amount to what one Senior Special Assistant would have earned.
“What the Governor did was to share one SSA salary among three WSAs, meaning that the cost of governance is not increased as a result of the high number of WSAs.
“Now we have at least three State Government officials in each of the 239 wards with significantly reduced salaries and allowances. This is smart governance. The Governor has been quietly reducing the cost of governance as a shrewd manager of resources.”
He urged the people of Kogi State to use the appointment of WSAs to ensure adequate feedback and supervision of government projects, programs, and policies.
“The Ododo Administration is building on the inherited legacies of the past administration in relation to grassroots empowerment. Many projects are currently ongoing in rural communities, and more will benefit from the second phase. What our Government is advocating is that if we want to prosper in agriculture, we must make our people enjoy living in rural areas where there is more access to basic social amenities.”
