Borno trains 120 LG stakeholders to strengthen grassroots governance

The Borno State Government has commenced a three-day training for 120 local government stakeholders, including the 27 council chairmen, as part of efforts to strengthen grassroots governance weakened by years of Boko Haram insurgency.

The training, titled “Transformational Leadership for Resilience Building and Sustainable Impact”, was flagged off in Maiduguri on Monday.

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Sugun Mai Mele, said the programme was designed to equip local government officials with the skills required to implement the state’s 25-Year Development Plan and respond effectively to the needs of residents at the community level.

He said the training brought together local government chairmen, secretaries, heads of the legislative arm, Directors of Personnel Management (DPM), Directors of Planning, Research and Statistics (DPRS), Directors of Finance and other officials.

Mai Mele said the programme would strengthen collaboration between the state and local governments and improve service delivery at the grassroots.

He urged local government leaders to ensure that government interventions translated into tangible benefits for residents.

“Responsibility comes with challenges. We want every local government chairman and the principal officers to provide services to their communities and ensure that the government is 100 per cent behind them,” he said.

The commissioner also urged the councils to properly maintain infrastructure and other projects provided by the government to ensure that development gains were sustained.

He said the training was particularly significant because similar programmes had not been organised for a long time.

The lead facilitator, Prof. Nana Tanko, said the programme was an initiative of the Borno State Government, facilitated by Stalwart Consults International.

She said the government determined the objectives and content of the training, while resource persons were drawn from the University of Maiduguri and other relevant agencies.

According to Tanko, the training was designed to enable local government officials to take ownership of the state’s 25-Year Transformation Agenda and 10-Year Strategy and lead their implementation at the grassroots.

“The focus is to build their capacity so that they can lead the execution of the Borno State 25-Year Transformation Agenda and the 10-Year Strategy of the government,” she said.

Tanko said the development plan was based on contributions from residents and should serve as a guide for local government officials in addressing challenges peculiar to their communities.

“They need to own it and take that as their guide in terms of implementation and ensuring the reconstruction of the state and rebuilding the resilience of the people,” she said.

She urged the participants to bring their experience and knowledge to bear on local leadership, stressing the need to ensure that government interventions addressed the needs of residents.