“Domesticating the campaign for Local Govt and uniform development at the grassroots is our priority” – OsunOpenLG advocates

_…Charges residents to engage their LG representatives_

To further the debates on autonomy and effective local government administration, the Insight Initiative for Community and Social Development has charged residents of Osun state and Nigeria at large to join the call for the functionality of Local Government and Uniform Development at the Grassroots.

This is as the NGO organized a stakeholders’ meeting tagged OsunOpenLG held in Osogbo, on Monday August 26 to further deepen the discourse.

The event which engaged stakeholders across board, has in attendance the Olowu of Kuta, Oba Hammed Oyelude Makama; the Alawo of Awo, Oba Taiwo Adegboye as royal fathers of the day where representatives of Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Osun state among others were in attendance to join the crusade on the need for Local Government and Uniform Development at the Grassroots.

Jare Tiamiyu, the Executive Director of Insight Initiative, described the programme as a movement aimed at providing grassroots leadership and community engagement in each local government in the state. He emphasized the importance of civic engagement, where young people can hold their leaders accountable for funding and other accountability.

Tiamiyu also stated that the OsunOpenLG initiative is ready to provide a way forward regarding the recent supreme court judgment, which allows funds to come directly to the local government chairmen, nothing that the need to hold the local government chairman accountable and brought in the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to ensure credible elections.

Panelists who shared reasons to get the campaign across Osun, charged participants to always engage their representatives at the local government level.

The panel at the event were the Chairman, Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), Barr. Hashim Abioye, a lawmaker in the state, Hon. Adewumi Adeyemi Irekandu, Chairman, Osun State Civil Societies Coalition (OCSC), Comrade Waheed Lawal and Osun State NAWOJ Chairperson, Mrs Abisola Ariwodola.

Others are Mr. Bukola Idowu, Executive Director, Kimpact Development Initiative; Barr. Hassan Mohammed, Osun State ICPC Resident Commissioner, the member representing Egbedore/Ede North/Ede South federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Bamidele Salam and the Project Director of the National Democratic Institute Abuja, Mr. Bem Aga and among relevant stakeholders in the state.

One of the panelists, Hon. Adewumi Adeyemi, representing Obokun state constituency at the Osun State House of Assembly, encouraged everyone to participate in the forthcoming local government election, emphasizing that everyone has a role to play in the development of local communities.

However, the OSSIEC Chairman, Hashim Abioye, assured that OSSIEC is ready and prepared to conduct a free and fair election come February, 2025.

Also, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) Commissioner in Osun, Hassan Hafiz, stated that ICPC will monitor the budget process expenditures within the local government.

The event also featured the inauguration of the 66 advocates of OsunOpenLG, issuance of pledge cards to stakeholders, interactive sessions and more.