LG Autonomy: Stakeholders Seek Collaborative Efforts On Transparency, Good Governance

Stakeholders in Osun State have sought the need for all segments of society to join hands to raise the bar of advocacy in achieving good governance at the local government level.

The move, according to the stakeholders, involves strategic engagement, and mobilization, among others, to guarantee development and responsible governance at the grassroots.

These formed part of discussions during an interactive session between the team members of the Osun Open Local Government Project and the management of Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in the state.

While receiving the OsunOpenLG team, the OSSIEC Chairman, Mr. Hashim Abioye, said the commission is ready to partner with all stakeholders to make the forthcoming local government election in the state a success.

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Abioye, who stressed the pivotal role of advocacy in engendering free and fair electoral processes, emphasised the need to further build the institutions of state to ensure credibility in the election of public officials.

The OSSIEC boss said, “It is important to strengthen the institutions of the state. I am always in support of a situation that allows the institutions of the state to be built and given all that it requires to function maximally.

“This will make sure that the people are in positions of authority respect the institution that produces them. It is what would make our elections much more valid and transparent. We are committed and positioned to preside over a hitch-free local government election in the state. We assure you that all interests will be taken care of.

“We want to build a legacy that supports transparency and accountability in election management particularly the one that touches directly with the grassroots. We will partner the OsunOpenLG project and work hand-in-hand to build on our advocacy to make the people participate in the process.”

In his submission, the Resident Anti-Corruption Officer of the ICPC in Osun, Barr. Hafiz Mohammed explained that the goal of the commission is to seek good governance for the citizenry through the judicious utilisation of public resources.

Mohammed stated that the agency is keenly interested in the OsunOpenLG project as it provides a platform for the anti-graft agency to penetrate the nooks and crannies of the state through continuous engagement and advocacy.

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His words, “The ICPC is resting on six pillars to drive the campaign, prosecution and enforcement of legal directives on anti-corruption cases. This is why our partnership with you is key.

“We are inspired by your youth drive and will want you to be beneficial to us, especially with information that has to do with opening up the council areas for transparency and accountability. We will be a part of your advocacy.”

The Team Lead, OsunOpenLG, Jare Tiamiyu said the essence of the visits is to create a partnership with the two bodies in propagating its gospel of people-oriented leadership at the third-tier of government.

Tiamiyu emphasised the need for critical stakeholders in the society to lend their voices to initiatives aimed at making the authorities work more for the people.

He also used the sessions to inform the ICPC and OSSIEC of the project’s stakeholders’ meeting holding on August 26, 2024, where eggheads from the government, civil society, traditional institutions, among others will deliberate on issues around local government administration in the country.  

The Osun Open Local Government Project is a youth-based advocacy run by a nongovernmental organisation, Insight Initiative for Community and Social Development to promote responsible leadership and development, with its four cardinal goals of accountability, civic engagement, grassroots development and entrenching good governance at the grassroots.