OsunOpenLG: NGO Engages Grassroots, Community Stakeholders

As part of efforts to engender transparency and accountability at the local government level, advocates of the Osun Open Local Government project have visited grassroots and community leaders across Osun State.

The advocacy, which began early September has traversed through Osogbo, Boripe, Ejigbo, Egbedore, Ife North, and Ife East council areas, is to reawaken the consciousness of the people on how to demand governance from representatives elected by them at the local level.

OSUN DEFENDER reports that the OsunOpenLG, a project of the Insight Initiative for Community and Social Development, began in December 2023, with a view to bridging the information gap on why government must continue to work for those who put them in power.

Some of the stakeholders reached include the Director of Finance, Ife North local government, Ipetumodu, Ologuro of Oguro, Oba Tajudden Oladepo Ooyebami, Apake III, traders at Okirika, Freedom Park and Orisumbare markets in Osogbo, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Tailors, Osun State, Mr. Mustapha, representatives of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Ejigbo chapter, as well as Modakeke Youths.

READ: OsunOpenLG: Stakeholders To Debate Local Govt Autonomy

A statement issued by the Executive Director, Insight Initiative for Community and Social Development, Jare Tiamiyu and Communications Officer, Sodiq Yusuf, stated that some of the issues highlighted during the grassroots arm of the stakeholders’ engagement include poor infrastructure, general discontent due to the perceived lack of impact by local governments, minimal government presence and the fear of safety in revealing their identities while voicing grievances.

The community leaders and government representatives recommended stronger efforts toward making local government operations more open and transparent, setup of town hall meetings between residents and local government officials to foster dialogue and address concerns as well as collaboration with organisations like the Council of Obas to create more awareness initiatives around local government transparency.

They also suggested that authorities at the third-tier of government design community outreach programmes to educate residents on civic responsibility and the importance of local governance, development of an e-platform for complaints and increase in public awareness of the role of local governments and the benefits of active civic engagement.