May 28, (THEWILL) – On Monday, in a significant move towards deepening accountability and social inclusion in governance, a non-governmental organisation, Community Development (CODE) stepped down engagement with various stakeholders in Bayelsa.
The Community of Practice (CoP) comprising 20 members drawn from Civil Society Organisations, Community Based Organisations, CBOs, Media, and Persons with Disabilities, is focused on Education, Health, and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH).
The event, held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, featured a presentation by the BANGOF Chairman, Mr Taritein Boco, who emphasised the importance of recognising, planning for, and managing power dynamics in governance.
He highlighted that power relations are present in all systems and structures and that inclusive power dynamics are crucial for strengthening relationships between government bodies and the people.
Ms Tare Maureen Amananaghan reiterated the need for the project in the State to be properly tracked, stating that the initiative is part of a broader effort to achieve collective impact through personal relationships and civic participation.
She emphasised that engaging stakeholders and promoting inclusive power dynamics aims to increase accountability and competition within governance systems, ultimately contributing to the common good.
The initiative, supported by the MacArthur Foundation, aims to promote resilience and sustainability in governance across Nigeria.
The members divided themselves into thematic areas and developed strategies for engagement with stakeholders, including community outreach and advocacy visits.
The project Trust ambassadors, drawn from Civil Society Organisations, comprising Women Organised for Mentorship and Advocacy Network, WOMAN, Starz Safety Initiative, SSI, Benny Development Initiative, BDI, Niger Delta Television, KHAN Initiative, and FACE Initiative among others, will use budget data to identify projects to be tracked in their communities and utilise a tool to nominate projects and understand its functionality.
They will then step down report writing to the CoP members and report any project discrepancies.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
