Govt doesn’t consult with local communities before implementing projects — Survey

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central), Mrs. Abiodun Essiet has disclosed that survey conducted in March 2024, 68.7% of citizens believe that the government does not consult with local communities before implementing projects.

She made this known on Wednesday at the Town Hall Meeting and Launch of The Citizens’ Assembly in Kogi State.

She stressed that on the 16th of September 2023, President Bola Tinubu appointed six Senior Special Assistants on Community Engagement across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

She said that this strategic initiative underscores President Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to integrating diverse voices and perspectives into our decision-making processes, thereby enhancing community development and cohesion.

These appointments according to her are a deliberate effort by President Tinubu to bridge the gap between the government and our local communities.

“By fostering dialogue, understanding, and collaboration, we are proactively addressing regional needs and concerns. This decentralised approach to governance signifies a strong commitment to grassroots engagement and tailored development initiatives, reflecting the unique challenges and opportunities present in each geopolitical zone of Nigeria.

Mrs. Essiet said community engagement plays a crucial role in building trust between the Federal Government and its citizens.

She noted that It establishes a direct connection, ensuring that the voices of the people are heard and considered in the corridors of power.

Her words, “To gain a clearer insight into the challenges facing our grassroots, we conducted a survey in March 2024, involving 166 respondents from the North Central region, including Abuja, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau states.

“The findings revealed a significant disconnect between the Federal Government and local communities. For instance: 48.2% of participants perceive a lack of engagement from the Federal Government. 78.3% feel unrepresented in the government’s policies and decision-making processes. 62.1% consider community engagement organisations effective. 68.7% believe the government does not consult with local communities before implementing projects.

“However, nearly 90% believe that co-creation can lead to more sustainable and contextually relevant solutions.

She noted that these findings clearly indicate a substantial gap in trust and communication between the Federal Government and local communities, a gap stemming from unfulfilled promises by successive governments over the past 25 years since the return to democratic rule.

“To bridge this gap, and key into Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda to improve governance by promoting national cohesion through strategic engagement with citizens, by initiating and implementing citizens and stakeholder engagement sessions to communicate government activities and serve as a feedback mechanism, my office initiated the Citizens Assembly for the North Central Region and the Listening Tour, to hear directly from our fellow citizens and allow them to make input in the process of governance and not just bystanders.

Also speaking, Hon. Sani Egidi AbdulRahim representing the Ajaokuta federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, commended President Ahmed Bola Tinubu in his laudable programme initiated at the grass root.

He mentioned that President has instructed them to go back to the grassroots and that the Town Hall Meeting is one such move so that politicians can always relate with their constituency.

The Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, Professor Salihu Ogbo in his speech lamented that there is hunger in town.

He called on the President to look into the plight of the people and find lasting solutions to the economic hardship facing the people of Nigeria.