Group tasks local governments on inclusive budgeting, governance

Community Life Project (CLP) has implored local governments to collaborate with communities in drawing up projects, as this will ensure residents participate in governance process.
   
Speaking at the end of project review meeting in Lagos, the Programme Manager, Mr. Francis Onahor stated that if communities were part of governance process, they would own projects executed by the government.
   
“This implies that such projects would be maintained by the communities, aside ensuring that they are not damaged.”Onahor said his organization, in the last three years, carried out a sensitisation programme, which was about ensuring communities participate in governance process in their areas. This, he said was done in 15 Local Council Development Areas (LCDA): Ikosi-Isheri, Igando-Ikotun, Ikoyi-Obalende, Isolo, Amuwo-Odofin, Somolu, Oju olowo-Ojuwoye, Kosofe, Ejigbo, Yaba, Mushin, Bariga, Surulere, Iru-Victoria Island, and Oshodi.

He said the project is to see how community can constructively engage their local government officials, to get their needs attended to and how to hold the officials accountable on their promises.
   
Mrs. Damilola Adetimeyin from Ikosi-Isheri LCDA said her community submitted reports to the local government officials, and with the help of CLP-Reclaim Naija, they were able to get positive feedback. Chief Mrs. Adefunke Omoniyi Johnson from Igando-Ikotun LCDA, reviewing all what they learnt within the three-year programme, said it has positively affected their interaction with the local government, by being bold to go to the local government officials to ask about the budget and constituency project for the area.