NGO tasks citizens on promotion of good governance, devt

A social and faith-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Citizens for Righteousness and Social Justice (CRJ), has stressed the need for citizens to promote good governance and economic development of Nigeria.

The organisation stated this, at the weekend, during a seminar it organised to mark its 33rd anniversary with the theme, “Good Governance and Economic Growth: The Role of the Citizens.”

Founder, CRJ, John Adesanya, said the theme was created to awaken the consciousness of citizens on their role in good governance and economic growth in Nigeria.

He urged citizens to imbibe the core values of the nation, especially integrity of character, which according to him, would help in nation-building.

Besides, he implored citizens to desist from seeing people in political positions as people that are in the role to share the national cake, thereby making demands from them, but to see them as servants.

“Citizens should shun political bias and ethnicity in their views on national issues.

“People should stop pursuing money at all costs,” he said.

Adesanya, therefore, urged the government to take steps in controlling what happens in the public transport system and not allow hoodlums to dictate what happens in the space.

The Guest Lecturer, Solomon Ojo, said citizens have a lot to contribute in promoting good governance and economic development of the country.

He said citizens are to support the efforts of the government by providing complementary infrastructural facilities, helping in the maintenance, and volunteering information that would lead to arrest and prosecution of those damaging or stealing facilities provided or breaking laws generally.

Ojo, who advised citizens to pay taxes, levies, and other dues to various levels of government and their agencies, said: “Avoid all acts of economic sabotage like smuggling of imported goods, illegal export of fuel, damaging of oil pipes, vandalising bridges, rail tracks, adulteration of fuel, among others.”