– Advocates Citizens’ Engagement to promote Transformative Governance in Kogi
By Grace Ben Kato
Chairman, Campaign For Transformative Governance (CFTG), Comrade Ahmed -Tijani Sule, has said the body is set to foster Transformative Governance in Nigeria.
Comrade Tijani, stated this at the multi-stakeholer strategic dialogue/townhall meeting in Lokoja, with the theme, “Deepening State Engagement and Mobilizing Stakeholders for Transformative Governance” in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital.
Tijani, who is also Chairman Trade Union Congress (TUC), Kogi chapter, said CFTG which is made up of FIWON, AUPCTRE as organised labour, Civil Society Organizations (CSO) and other stakeholders, are dedicated to social justice, equity and democratic governance.
According to him, the partnership became imperative in view of the need for good governance and implementation of workable policies.
Comrade Tijani, expressed optimism that the present administration under Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo, will execute workers friendly programmes especially implementing of new national minimum wage. “We look forward to see Kogi Government implement the N70,000 new minimum wage approved by the Federal Government so that it will reduce the sufferings of the masses” Tijani said.
In his presentation, Secretary CFTG, Tijani Abdulkareem, called on Kogites, Civil Society Organisations and the Labour Union to come under one platform to agitate and carry out actions and programmes towards achieving transformative governance in Kogi State and Nigeria as a whole.
Abdulkareem, who is also the Executive Director, Socio Economic Research and Development Centre (SERDEC), said the synergy if achieved will go a long way in making government accountable to the people as well as drive development in the Country.
He noted that CFTG is being implemented in Kogi under the state Charter of Partnership, Mobilisation and Engagement (CAPME) to improving transformative governance.
CAPME, he said sets out principles for improving governance in the state through participatory governance and putting the people and business at the centre of policy formulation, implementation and service delivery”.
He stressed that the thematic areas for CAPME intervention includes; ensuring accessible social protection for workers and citizens to end poverty and hunger, promote participatory governance through access to Public Finance Management Information, tackling insecurity arising from illegal mining activities leading to environmental issues among others.
In his paper presentation, titled: “the Role of Civil Society and Labour in Driving Development”, Hamza Aliyu, opined that effective collaboration between civil society and labor unions would create a powerful synergy that advances development goals.
Aliyu, who is the Executive Director, Initiative for Grassroot Advancement, (INGRA), said CSOs could partner with unions to advocate for better labor standards or address issues like child labor.
He therefore, called for effective monitoring and evaluation impact, strengthening institutional capacity, promoting inclusivity and diversity, and building of alliances with other Stakeholders, among others.
