Democracy
is all about the people, it is therefore the belief that any democratic government
worth its salt must embrace accountability, citizen’s voice and participation as these
are tenets of democracy.
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| Amb, Abimbola Junaid talking about how the peoples charter came to be. |
With
the growing awareness of the people’s power in a democracy, the
organised ordinary citizens, known as the grassroots, comprising of artisans, market women traders and men, farmers, religious
groups, human rights organizations, people living with disabilities groups and women’s
groups decided to engage the gubernatorial candidates on the issues
rather than blanket promises exhibited so fa.
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| The Lagos State Civil Society Partnership (LACSOP). |
Through a
peoples charter named “OUR
LAGOS”, compiled from the feedback of members of the Citizens Networks numbering
over thousands in their groups and social media opinion poll, the people made
specific demands of the Lagos State Gubernatorial candidates towards a people
oriented government in Lagos State, come 29th of May, 2015 and beyond!
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| Cross section of participants. |
The areas
of feedback included
1. The area of Public
Service Administration:
That institutionalized and timely access to services is paramount
That a culture of proficient, ethical and courteous customer
services be imbibed in the state.
That independent ombudsmen across services should be set up to investigate cases of customer complaints
2.The need for the government to
conform to global best practices in transparency and accountability in
governance.
3.The need to enforce due
diligence in the procurement system in Lagos State.
4.That Lagos State that prides
itself as an open government, the center of excellence and a progressive state
should domesticate the Freedom of Information Act(FOI).
These were
few of the issues in the peoples’ charter, the candidates in attendance
included AD, KOWA and the NCP gubernatorial candidates and they read and signed
the peoples charter which becomes a social contract between them and the people
should they be elected to office.
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| Mr Shina Byron The SW Regional Coordinator, DFID Nigeria. |
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| Comrade Ayodele Akele the NCP gubernatorial candidate signing the social contract |
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| Oloye Victor Adeniji, Lagos State gubernatorial candidate of the KOWA party signing the social contract |
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I was validating the charter here!
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| Mr Bolaji Ogunseye of Alliance For Democracy signing the social Contract. |
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| The Panelists and the candidates: Henry Balogun, Yemisi Ransome Kuti, the candidates:AD, NCP and KOWA, Mr Shina Byron the SW DFID representative. |
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| Cross Section of Participants also included People living with Disability. (PWD). |
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| Ms.Yemisi Ransome Kuti, |
Thumbs up to our democracy.!!!
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