By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Nigerians have expressed their feelings on governance in Lagos State, saying that the government of Lagos State is elitist in nature where the elites oppress the majority poor for their selfish goals, noting that motorcycle (Okada) riders are being unjustly treated.
The expressions were made on Thursday in Ikeja, Lagos by participants during panel discussion at the 9th edition of the Citizens Accountability and Rights Forum (CARF), a monthly stakeholder’s interactive roundtable on public policy making and execution organised by the Committee For The Defence Of Human Rights (CDHR) in collaboration with Centre For Anti-corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL)
They argued that crushing the tool of trade for individuals such as motorcycles or carting away people’s goods and food items will be counter productive as it is not the answer if someone offends the law.
“Crushing the motorcycles will not end the problem, instead more of them would be transported into the metropolitan city of Lagos as a commercial nerve centre of Nigeria.
“The government should create lanes for pedestrians and motorcyclists so as to avoid clash of interest between Okada riders and the government.
Discussing the theme of the event: Financing Participatory Governance in Lagos State: How Much of Public Involvement, the participants noted the government does not carry critical stakeholders along while taking decisions of financing governance.
“There is so much on governance financing which stakeholders desire.
“Participatory governance is beyond inviting selected people. Most times, core representatives of the people such as CSO’s/NGO’s , CDA’s are not invited even when giving account of their stewardship.
Issues raised in relation to the theme are: have the citizens fully participated or contributed their ideas in the budget for Lagos citizens by Government of Lagos State?
Responding to the issues raised by participants , a member of Lagos State House of Assembly and Chairman Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Finance, Hon.Femi Saheed said that Lagos State is the only State where budget is scrutinized by all stakeholders, including the NGO’s. He said that Lagos State House of Assembly engage citizens quarterly which is known as Stakeholders Forum.
Besides, the Office of Civic engagement is in Lagos to engage citizens and collaborate with them on issues affecting them.
Also speaking, Mr M.A. Odumade representing Hon. Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso said that Governor Sanwo-Olu is running a government which carries everybody along, adding that the instant gathering is a laudable initiative.
“It is an avenue for the stakeholders to be part of the budget planning process”
Earlier in his opening address, Comrade
Debo Adeniran, President, Committee For The Defence Of Human Rights, CDHR, Chairman, Centre For Anti-Corruption And Open Leadership (CACOL), on behalf of the Board of Governors of the Committee For The Defence Of Human Rights, CDHR, welcomed all to another edition of the Citizens Accountability and Rights Forum (CARF).
“As most of you would know, this is the ninth edition of the Citizens Accountability and Rights Forum (CARF). This event is a bold step in CDHR and CACOL’s commitment to contribute to creating a peaceful atmosphere between the people on the demand side of governance in Lagos State and those on the supply side.
“This platform was organized to create an avenue where the implementers and the beneficiaries of various government policies would come together to explain, elucidate and expatiate on areas of concern for the citizenry with a view to harmonizing different opinions on policies that are being implemented in the State.
“This event provides a forum for healthy exchanges of ideas so that the areas of friction between the government and the governed would be drastically reduced if not totally eliminated because the people would have sense of belonging and the government would have the opportunity of listening to the people and explaining their positions on diverse policy issues that may crop up at a particular time.
“We are convinced that this will definitely bring about harmonious relationship between the government and the governed.
“Today, we want to beam our searchlight on Lagos’ Finances. With the theme, Financing Participatory Governance in Lagos State: How Much of Public Involvement. We would like to brainstorm on how the government is financing the various sectors in the state and how much of public involvement is embedded in this activity of government.
“Financing is the backbone of successful participatory governance. Without adequate and sustainable funding, the vision of an inclusive and citizen-driven government cannot be realized. This is because:Funding is required to bridge the gap between government and marginalized groups, such as low-income earners, women, and people living in slums or remote areas.
“Resources are needed to organize community forums, town hall meetings, and stakeholder consultations across the state. Financial support can help translate meetings into actionable outcomes, such as funding for roads, schools, or healthcare facilities as prioritized by citizens.
“Financing enables the development of digital platforms (e.g., mobile apps, websites) for participatory budgeting, project tracking, and citizen feedback.Investments in technology can also expand the reach of participatory processes, allowing more citizens to engage through smartphones, SMS, or web tools.
“Physical infrastructure, such as community centers and meeting halls, is needed for grassroots mobilization and engagement.Funds are essential for training government officials, community leaders, and volunteers on participatory governance principles.Capacity-building initiatives foster effective communication, problem-solving, and project management skills, ensuring participatory processes achieve their intended outcomes.
“Financing is needed to create transparent and accountable systems for managing participatory governance funds. This includes publishing financial records, conducting audits, and showcasing completed projects.When citizens observe that their contributions, through taxes or levies, are used effectively, it builds trust in governance, encourages citizen ownership and further participation”.
