By Abbas Jimoh
The Path to Peace Foundation (PPF), has launched a scheme to train 60 indigenes/residents in the territory on practical strategies for engaging, monitoring and influencing the policy actions across the six Area Councils in Abuja.
The PPF, a non-profit organization fostering sustainable development through dialogue and community-driven solutions foundation, said the development is part of measures to monitor the implementation and impacts of local government autonomy in the FCT.
The Communications Officer of the PPF, Fareedah Omiyale, said in Abuja that new project is to drive accountability and participatory governance at the grassroots level in the wake of local government autonomy in Nigeria.
“The project, focusing on the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory, is themed ‘The Abuja Project: Empowering Communities for Grassroots Impact’. The task of rural development is a primary responsibility of local governments. However, rural communities, especially in the remote Area Councils of Abuja, are mostly excluded in decision-making processes, resulting in ineffective governance and unmet community needs,” Omiyale said.
She said that with the Supreme Court’s judgement of July 11, 2024, reinforcing the financial and administrative autonomy of local governments, accountability of the area councils has become a critical factor in quality governance and rural development.
She said, “Yet, little exists as foundation for transparency and accountability, while most citizens remain unaware of how to engage. The Abuja Project, supported by the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund, is a timely intervention to address these challenges by strengthening the autonomy and bridging the gap between local governments and citizens.
“This ultimately enhances efficiency, accountability and grassroots empowerment for rural development. The project will include fellowship, town halls, research and advocacy campaigns.
Activities: Training of 60 indigenes/residents on practical strategies for engaging, monitoring and influencing local government autonomy actions across the six area councils in Abuja.
Raise awareness in Abuja on Local Government autonomy and their (indigenes/ residents’) rights to engage representatives effectively.”
Omiyale said that the project would also conduct research on the state of legislation/local government autonomy in Abuja as well as organize a town hall as a platform for dialogue between citizens and local government councilors in the six area councils.