FROM Lateef Taiwo, KADUNA
Partnership to Engage, Reform & Learn (PERL) Team Lead Kaduna State, Abel Adejor has said that electioneering period is over, it is time for governance and holding those elected accountable.
He expressed this while delivering the welcome address at a One-Day Review on the Submission of Citizens Groups to Transition Committee and Track the Implementation held in Kaduna on Wednesday August 9, 2023.
He said prior to the elections, engagements were held with Partnership for Issue Based Campaigns in Nigeria PICaN, where the gubernatorial candidates were present, where demand charter was presented to them.
“Now that we are going to look at government direction, we will look at areas in all sectors that require intervention.Through dialogue we will see how we can hold the government accountable,” he said.”
The Partnership for Issues-based Campaign in Nigeria (PICaN) with support of Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) funded Partnership to Engage, Reform & Learn (PERL-ECP) organised the one-day roundtable session on Reviewing the Submission of Citizens Groups to Transition Committee and Track the Implementation.
The objectives of the session are to: Reflect on the agenda-setting activities during the 2023 gubernatorial elections with focus on influence of citizens’ demand charter, Facilitate dialogue with strategic political appointees to generate strategies to support and track the implementation of the SUSTAIN blueprint; and Jointly agree on next steps to strengthen partnership.
The representative of the group PICaN Yusuf Ishaku Goje however disclosed that its engagements and demand charter developed through its programmes, has influenced some content of the Kadunà State Governor, Senator Uba Sani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) SUSTAIN Agenda.
He said, in the health sector they submitted 14 needs, but 4 were reflected in the blueprint and In social protection they submitted 7 and got 5 input,”
According to him, the demands presented in the charter for education were nine, out of which 3 were reflected in the SUSTAIN Agenda.
Speaking further, “he predicted that the 2027 election in the state would feature more engagement with candidates because they believe by the next election, the engagement will be more robust,”
Adding, “Even the politicians are seeing that we are moving towards governance and the electorate are becoming more aware,”
The PICaN founder said that in view of the successes recorded, what they would do next is to track the SUSTAIN Blueprint.
“Our intent is that we will use the success as result sheet for the Kaduna State Government because we have the state government development plan and the SUSTAIN blueprint has seven areas of focus which we will track.” He said.
