Lagos seeks residents’ involvement in governance

The Lagos State Government says it has started meeting various groups and non-governmental organisations in the state to promote community development and participation in the political process.

The government explained that its officials had met with about 94 civil societies and NGOs, including students’ representatives from higher institutions of learning in the state.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Civic Engagement, Kehinde Joseph, at a news conference to review the activities of the Office of  Civic Engagement, said the initiative would enable the people to have input in governance, adding that residents’ interest in government activities would promote transparency and accountability.

He said, “This is also to encourage the development of better and creative ideas and solutions that would be helpful to the citizens’ wellbeing.

 “Our engagement with the public is also to sensitise the residents to their roles in a democratic dispensation and the need for them to be actively involved in moving the state forward through effective participation in the political process.”

Joseph said the government would continue to encourage all well-meaning citizens to contribute their quotas to governance, adding that the present administration had made good its promise to run an open and inclusive government.

He said  about N39m had been given to no fewer than 248 Lagosians, who were in need of financial assistance, as start-up capital for small and medium scale businesses.

 Joseph explained that the funds were disbursed through the Office of Civic Engagement.

 He explained that additional requests for financial assistance from members of the public were being processed, saying more people would benefit from the exercise soon.

The special adviser said residents needed orientation on the type of complaints they brought to the government, adding that many citizens erroneously took irrelevant protests to the government.