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CSO Situation Room Urges Kogi Assembly to promote OGP through Legislation

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By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.

NIGERIA Civil Society Situation Room (SR) has enjoined Kogi State House of Assembly to make necessary laws to promote the principles of Open Government Partnership (OGP) and incorporate the concept into oversight functions for effective implementation.

SR made the call at a One-day Capacity Building On Open Government Partnership (OGP) for Kogi State House of Assembly Members on Thursday in Lokoja.

The capacity building was organised by the Situation Room (SR) in partnership with Initiative For Grassroot Advancement In Nigeria (INGRA) with support from Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)

One of the Resource Persons, Mr Miliki Idris Abdul presented a paper titled: “Understanding The Processes, Challenges and Dynamics Of Legislators In The Realisation Of OGP At Sub-national level In Kogi State.”

In his presentation, Miliki described OGP as a global initiative, to encourage Accountability and Transparency in Governance through citizens’ participation.

He said that the Legislature as an arm of Government that makes laws for the good of the society and the people, had special role to play in the OGP principle.

The Legislators, he said, must therefore, be conversant with the rudiments and importance of the OGP by availing themselves of necessary information on the principle.

Miliki also urged the House to set up specific committee on OGP, build a broad-based partnership, particularly with the Media and CSOs to achieve the objectives and goals of partnership as a global concept.

Speaking earlier, Mr Hamza Aliyu, Executive Director, INGRA in his opening remarks, described OGP as a novel concept in terms of accountability and partnership between the government and the people.

He said that the emphasis is on appropriation of funds through budgeting and oversight functions of the House.

“And so, that is why we feel that we should begin the engagement process with the Legislators as elected representatives in the House of Assembly to state exactly what the OGP is to them in terms of their roles and responsibilities.

In his goodwill message, Hon. Bode Ogunmola, member representing Ogori-Magongo State Constituency at the House Assembly PDP said the OGP concept was self explanatory as it emphasis openness in government spending.

Ogunmola said if appropriated monies are spent the way they ought to, in accordance with the approved laws, nobody will run into any crisis adding that emphasis would now be placed on adherence to stipulated rules.

Amb. Idris Ozovehe Muraina Co-chair of the State Action Plan Steering Committee of the OGP, thanked the state for taking the bold step of incorporating the OGP commitments into the 2024 budget.

He also reiterated the need for the legislators to play active role in the implementation of the OGP five commitments across the four thematic areas through their legislative and oversight functions.

Mr Alfa Ndagi, Deputy Clerk of Kogi Assembly, Yabagi Mohammed, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker and other stakeholders in their goodwill messages commended INGRA for initiating the capacity building. (Ends)

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News From Kogi

North-Central Assemblies’ Speakers urge FG to be decisive on insecurity

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North Central States Speakers

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja

SPEAKERS of Houses of Assembly from the North-Central Geo-political zone have called on the Federal Government to be decisive in tackling the spate of insecurity in the zone to avoid food food crisis, underdevelopment.

The Speakers from Benue, Kogi, Nassarawa, Niger and Plateau states made the call in a communique arising from resolutions reached at the end of their conference in Lokoja.

The Speakers held that the menacing insecurity threatening existence of the zone had continuously negated development efforts in the North-Central states with negative effects on food security and general development.

“Aware that there cannot be genuine development where there is no peace, we condemn the present state of insecurity in the North Central zone of the country.

“This is because the situation has retarded development in different spheres of endeavour,” they said.

It added that the zone is the food basket of the country and that farmers have not been able to cultivate the land and provide food for the citizens despite the worsening food crisis in the country,

“Farmers/herders clashes have continued unabated, yet, kidnapping has added a more dangerous dimension to the sad situation.”

The Speakers therefore urged the Federal Government to implement effective measures to address the lingering insecurity and crises that have bedeviled the region and stem the tide of the problem crippling the zone and exacerbating the poverty situation of their people.

The Speakers commended the Federal Government for the sustained dualisation of the Keffi-Makurdi and Makurdi to the Eastern Nigeria road projects.

They however, called for increased investment in critical infrastructure such as roads, healthcare facilities, and education to enhance economic development and improve the living standards of citizens.

“We ask that the current Federal Government expedite action on the need to complete the protracted project of the Abuja-Lokoja-Benin Road, the Abuja-Suleija-Minna, the Abuja-Akwanga-Jos Road Projects and other projects linking the North and the south through the North Central Geopolitical Region of the country.”

The Speakers expressed appreciation to their Governors, past and present, and the people of the zone in the enthronement of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu – led government, acknowledging that the North Central region remains the melting point of Nigerian politics.

They therefore emphasized the need for political tolerance for creation of a healthy political atmosphere, inclusivity to reduce political tension and cooperation among stakeholders, while also fostering peaceful coexistence and good governance.

“We are however miffed by the aftermath of the election, vis-a-vis what has become of some of our political leaders, despite their sterling roles in ensuring the victory of the APC – led government.

“We will continue to further our interactions and discussions with other critical stakeholders on this to determine the next cause of action in subsequent political decisions in the interest of our region.

“We have also resolved to continually engage relevant and critical stakeholders while working together to address other challenges facing the region, including economic empowerment, environmental degradation, and social justice.

The North-Central States Assembly Speakers Conference is being chaired by Rt Hon. Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh (Atonko u Mbatiav), Speaker of Benue Assembly.

Present at the meeting were Rt Hon. Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, the Speaker, Niger State; Rt Hon. Danladi Jatau, Nasarawa; Rt Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf (Badakoshi of Lokoja), Kogi and Rt Hon. Gabriel Dewar, Plateau State. (Ends)

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E-Birth Enrollment: NPC registers 185,307 children in Kogi

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***Urges parents on quick response to meet target

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.

The National Population Commission (NPC), Kogi State Office, on Thursday said it has so far registered a total of 185,307 children under the E-birth enrollment in the state ahead of the December 31, 2024 target.

Abiodun Ojo, Kogi Director of the Commission disclosed this at a Press Conference to showcase the level of response and compliance with the E-Birth Enrollment on Thursday in Lokoja.

The press conference organised by the Kogi State Directorate of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) as part of its collaborative efforts with the NPC, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and the National Identify Management Commission, (NIMC).

Ojo hinted that the collaboration was aimed at enabling dissemination of needed information on the E-Birth project.

The State Director who was represented by Mrs Omattah Ralie, Head of Vital Registration of the NPC assured that the office would be able to conclude the E-Birth registration exercise in the state by December this year in line with the UNICEF deadline.

The NPC Director appealed to parents who are yet to avail their children of the opportunity of the E-Birth Registration to do so without further delay as the deadline for the exercise is close by.

“E-Birth registration exercise is free hence the more reason why parents should be encouraged to make their children available for the enrollment”, Ojo advised.

The State Director identified parental resistance especially in capturing of their children faces, nonchalant attitude or absenteeism and making their children unavailable for the exercise as a major challenges identified so far.

Speaking earlier, Mr Patrick Edogbanya, Acting State Director of National Orientation Agency, Kogi Directorate, on behalf of his Director General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, noted that the E-BIRTH registration has been on in the last three years.

He explained that the project was being funded by UNICEF, an international donor agency to ensure easier headcount of children world over.

“The National Orientation Agency’s role on the project is to embark on massive sensitization of Nigerians to enable them know what to do to embrace the scheme

“Our sensitization efforts via the use of the Media is a continuous one. So far we have been able to Flagg Off our sensitization and awareness creation on the E-BIRTH registration in ten local government areas of Kogi state” Edogbaya disclosed.

Also speaking, Jeminiwa Olusegun, Assistant Chief Identity Officer of the National Identify Management Commission (NIMC), Kogi State, revealed that 120 million Nigerians out of the expected 300 million population have been captured under the ongoing identification Programme for the nation’s citizens.

According to him, the e-registration Programme is a global practice aimed at enhancing accuracy, security and efficiency in the system (Ends)

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Kogi Assembly tasks Env. Min. on mitigating ecological disasters

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***Calls for short, long-term measures to tackle ecological challenges

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.

KOGI House of Assembly has tasked the State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to immediately undertake on-the-spot assessment of Local Government Areas affected by ecological disasters across the state, with a view to proffering solutions.

The directive was contained in a resolution of the House issued at plenary in Lokoja following the adoption of a motion on Urgent Public Importance moved by Hon. Eneve Yusuf Zakari (APC-Okene II, Hon. Eneve Yusuf Zakari.

The motion had urged the State Government to address the serious ecological challenges visited on communities in Abuga Ozuga ward of Okene LGA by Okuhua Obanyi River.

Zakari disclosed that the Okuhua Obanyi River in Okene Local Government Area has become a source of severe ecological challenges, significant degradation and devastation to the communities on its course.

He added that it was a known fact that the river which originates from Onchiehe causes wide spread damages through the neighbouring communities to Adavi-Eba in Adavi Local Government Area.

The legislator pointed out that the river had already brought down houses and infrastructures such as the fence of Selfudeen LSMB Primary School, Egeze, just as it has eroded more than a quarter of the landmass of the school.

The Legislator expressed fears that if urgent interventions were not carried out before the next raining season, the river would cause more destructions, deaths and loss of properties.

Hon. Zakari therefore prayed the House to call on the state government to urgently deploy resources and expertise to address the ecological challenges posed by Okuhua Obanyi River in the Abuga/Ozuja Ward of Okene Local Government Area .

He also prayed government to provide relief and support for the affected communities and as well, encourage collaboration between the State and Federal Governments and the Ecological Fund Office to mobilize resources to address the challenge.

Hon. Zakariaya Otokiti (APC-Okehi) seconded the motion while the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon. Comfort Ojoma Nwuchiola Egwaba in contribution thanked the mover of the motion and called for an amendment to one if the prayers.

She held that other LGAs suffering same fate should be aggregated and subsumed under the prayer to read “All the LGAs that have ecological challenges”, pointing out that an injury to one is an injury to all.

Ruling on the motion, Speaker of the House Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf adopted the amendment to one of the prayers and subjected the motion to voice votes which got a unanimous “Ayes” approval.

Speaker Yusuf thereafter directed Clerk of the House, Alhaji Ahmed Chogudo to convey the House Resolution to the appropriate quarters for implementation. (Ends)

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