By Shearerr Ukpong
As part of efforts to deepen transparency and accountability in local government administration, Policy Alert, a civil society organisation focused on advancing fiscal and ecological justice in the Niger Delta, has paid an advocacy visit to the Executive Chairman of Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, Rt. Hon. Obong Asuakak Umoh.
The visit was to formally intimate the Chairman of Policy Alert’s ongoing advocacy initiative titled “Prioritising Communities, Enhancing Transparency and Accountability in Local Government Administration.”
The project is being implemented by Policy Alert with support from the Nigerian Youth Fund, a funding mechanism dedicated to youth-led organisations promoting citizens’ participation, leadership and good governance.
Leading the delegation, Mr. Faith Paulinus, Head of Project and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) Officer, explained that the project had commenced with its first phase, which involved training 90 youths drawn from ten local government areas across the three senatorial districts of Akwa Ibom State. According to him, the training focused on civic engagement, budget literacy and advocacy, with the objective of strengthening informed youth participation in governance and public accountability.
Mr. Paulinus noted that the advocacy visit was also aimed at soliciting the partnership of the Ibiono Ibom Local Government Chairman to facilitate the next phase of the programme a quarterly town hall meeting. He said the proposed town hall would provide a platform for citizens to directly interface with the Chairman on policy issues, particularly engaging young people, women and persons with disabilities. The forum, he added, would also serve to brief residents on government achievements and enable a structured needs assessment for sustainable community development.
Responding, Rt. Hon. Obong Asuakak Umoh commended Policy Alert for its initiative and commitment to promoting participatory governance at the grassroots.
He highlighted key achievements of his administration, including the provision of educational grants and scholarships, improvements in healthcare delivery, agricultural support programmes, road infrastructure development, construction of buildings for traditional rulers, and the payment of monthly stipends to over 300 youths serving in various committees.
The Chairman also underscored his administration’s periodic engagement with youths, elders, women and other stakeholders, stressing the importance of dialogue in governance.
He advised the organisation to incorporate youth reorientation in its advocacy programmes, particularly discouraging the misuse of social media to abuse public officials and addressing certain societal beliefs that encourage unnecessary ceremonial expenditures.
Rt. Hon. Umoh assured the delegation of the local government’s readiness to partner with Policy Alert on its current and future programmes, describing collaboration with credible civil society organisations as critical to inclusive and accountable governance.
Other members of the Policy Alert delegation present at the meeting included Mr. Idorenyin Eyo, Project Lead, and Dr. Koko Udo, Head of Programmes.
