Oyo exco orders stakeholders meeting on state of nation

The Oyo State Executive Council has directed an immediate interface between top government officials and relevant stakeholders to keep them abreast of the state of the nation’s as it concerns the uncertainties in the economy, security and social infrastructure.

Secretary to the State Government, Olalekan Alli, in a statement, said Governor Abiola Ajimobi would take the lead by holding a town hall meeting with members of the public on a quarterly basis.

He said that the council gave the directive at its November 4 meeting in the spirit of good and participatory governance.

According to the SSG, the new policy direction would be a regular dialogue geared towards conveying government’s plans, policies, efforts and actions taken to surmount the various challenges posed by the state of the economy.

Alli said: “As a matter of policy, there will be public engagements with a focus on issues such as security of lives and property; social and infrastructural services, such as health, water supply, roads, energy, education, and the environment.

“The discourse will also centre on the economy/finance, including internally generated revenue, salaries and pensions, as well as the welfare of the citizenry, including workers.

“To this end, all heads of ministries, departments and agencies, including commissioners and permanent secretaries shall formally hold a briefing and interactive session with their respective staff once in a month.

“All local government chairmen and heads of local government administration are advised to formally hold a briefing and interactive session with their respective staff once a month. They should also engage the citizenry in a town hall meeting once in a quarter.”

Alli added that Governor Ajimobi, would also hold a formal town hall meeting with members of the public once in a quarter, in addition to using various media channels and vehicles to interact with the public.

Alli was optimistic that these new measures would bring the people closer to the government and serve as a veritable platform to obtain firsthand feedbacks to smoothen the relationship between the government and the governed.

He said such regular conversation with the people would keep them abreast of government’s policies, plans, programmes and activities and forestall misinformation, misunderstanding and mischief capable of heating up the polity.