Kogi Govt sets to strengthen Town Hall meetings to boost Government, Citizenship relations.
The Kogi Government on Monday, reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening feedback mechanism from the citizens through regular town hall meetings across the state.
The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, gave the assurance at a town hall meeting held in Iyara, Ijumu Local Government Area of the state.
Fanwo noted that the rational behind the meeting was to create awareness on government’s activities, get feedback from the people and increase grassroot involvement in its activities and programmes.
According to him, you can never succeed as a government until the people are strongly behind you and giving the necessary support.
”We are not here to just reel out government’s achievements to you but to also have conversations and interact with you to enable us get feedback to the government.
”His Excellency, Alh. Yahaya Bello, is a governor who runs all inclusive open government that is accessible to all, because power belongs to the people”, he said.
The commissioner said Kogi is relatively safe compared to any other state in the country, made possible by the security apparatus put in place by the government.
He explained that the government under the leadership of Governor Yahaya Bello, had purchased over 250 patrol vans for the use of the security agencies to patrolling every nook and cranny of the state.
He said that there had also been a great synergy between the security agencies, Kogi State Vigilante Services and Local Hunters, adding that the government’s whistle blower policies was also working well for the state.
”The state government has also made a giant stride in the education sector through the execution of unprecedented projects such as the ‘Blue Roof’ signature of renovation of blocks of classrooms across communities in the state.
”This, in particular has turned around the infrastructures in schools at primary level in all parts of the state.
”The establishment of a specialised Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) Osara, within a record time has provided employment for so many people as well as training manpower within the area of science and technology.
”Similarly, many projects are ongoing at Kogi State Polytechnic Lokoja, that are at various levels of completion”, he said.
The further said that the construction of GYB Model Science Secondary Schools projects were ongoing at various senatorial district across the state.
Speaking on health sector, he lauded the insurance scheme for the people of the state, the ongoing renovation of specialists hospital Lokoja, the referral hospital Okene and general hospital Idah among others across the state
He noted that the mechanised agriculture system adopted by the state government, was another area the Kogi youths are venturing into by joining cooperative societies.
He, therefore encouraged the people to hold government and it’s functionaries accountable, while taking advantage of yet to be launched open Governance Accountability System (KOGAS) to checkmate their leaders.
Fanwo said that the all inclusive administration of the government for the youth and women in GYB Administration, was unprecedented and role model for all other to follow as recently attested to by the National council of women society (NCWS).
Earlier, the Chairman of Ijumu Local Government Area, Mr Taofik Isa, commended the commissioner for the initiative while appreciating the Governor for his vision for the state and Nigeria at large.
Isa eulogised the Governor for creating the enabling environment for the Chairmen of LGAs to operate without any form of hindrances.
The chairman further reel out the numerous achievements of his administration for the good people of Ijumu at the local government level, promising his commitment to do more.
He lauded the state government’s for initiating the town hall meeting for the benefits of the people of the state especially at the grassroots level.
Treasuretimes reports that the meeting was well attended by various stakeholders in area, who were so impressive about the initiative.
The commissioner responded to questions from the participants and promised to convey the rest to the governor.
The representatives of the various stakeholders present at the meeting, took their turns to address the gathering, while commending the state government for the gesture.
The stakeholders at the meeting were: Traditional rulers, community and religious leaders, market women, herders, farmers, students’ unions, youth and women leaders, political leaders, security agencies, among others.
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