CODE Pushes for Inclusion, Accountability in Jigawa Governance
From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
Connected Development (CODE), a non-governmental organization, hosted a stakeholder meeting in Dutse to promote accountability through community monitoring in Jigawa State.
The one-day event, held on April 18th, 2024, at Tahir Guest Palace Hotel, emphasized the importance of social inclusion for a more resilient and accountable government across Nigeria.
Comrade Adamu Sulaiman, CODE’s Jigawa State Support Officer, addressed the gathering, highlighting the “Project Trust” initiative. Funded by the MacArthur Foundation, the project aims to build a collaborative network within six communities across three local government areas: Gwaram, Kirikasamma, and [unidentified third LGA].
Miss Nkem Gloria, CODE’s Program Assistant, elaborated on Project Trust’s role in empowering community members. The project unites these “communities of practice” to leverage their expertise and actively participate in implementing accountability systems within their respective local governments.
Nkem emphasized the need for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to establish mechanisms that ensure accessibility for people with disabilities in government projects and budget planning processes. She also urged media organizations to raise public awareness through sensitization programs, keeping citizens informed about government policies and their implementation.
Dr. Kasim Muhammad, Director-General of the Jigawa State Due Process Office, commended the initiative. He noted its alignment with the Due Process Office’s mandate of ensuring effective and efficient service delivery through project nomination and monitoring.
Dr. Muhammad acknowledged challenges in accessing public information. He explained, “It depends on who submits a request and when they collect it. We’ve been preparing bills of quantities, but people haven’t been coming forward. However, we’re continuously working on improving these processes.”
