Civil Society Organisations in Akwa Ibom State have urged the governor, Pastor Umo Eno to embark on projects that he would be able to finish in order to minimize issues of abandoned projects in the state.
This was part of resolutions formed at the end of the 1st Annual CSO conference with the theme: “The Civil Society and Good Governance in a Democracy,” organised by the Center for Human Rights & Accountability Network (CHRAN) in Akwa Ibom State, held at Watbridge hotels and suites, Uyo, the state capital.
In a statement signed by the State Director of CHRAN, Otuekong Franklyn Isong and the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Vincent Aluu on Monday the conference was aimed to set the agenda for new governments in the Country as it came at the time when the new administrations were yet to fully commence the process of implementing their blueprints for the benefits of the citizenry.
The statement noted that for there to be good governance in any democratic society, there must be existence of accountability, transparency and rule of law.
“The Center is calling on Governor Umo Eno to streamline the projects and programmes into few that can easily be achieved within the tenure of his administration given the availability of funds, starting with projects that are identified as the low-hanging fruits.” The statement in parts.
On his part, the Keynote Speaker and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Professor Akpan Ekpo, identified docile citizenry as a factor that has given room for bad governance in Nigeria and challenged citizens to demand their rights both political and economic from governments.
He decried the rate of inflation, economic downturns, corruption, infringement of human rights, abuse of rule of law and other socio-economic crises bedevilling Nigeria.
Represented by Prof. Ntiedo Umoren, Prof. Ekpo urged the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to wake up to their duties of advocating for the poor masses and engaging government to provide the basic needs of life to at least 80-85 per cent of citizens.
He also harped on good followership, saying that, the CSOs and the followers must synergise, monitor and ensure good governance to avoid uncommon misery under the democracy.
Also speaking, the Chairman on the Conference, Rt. Hon. Ime Bassey Okon in his remarks said that both the Conference and its theme have come at a good time as Nigeria at all levels of government grapple with the challenges of good governance to birth the dividends of democracy.
Okon, who is the member representing Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Abuja said that the theme of the Conference directly establishes a nexus between good governance and democracy.
