As Nigeria marks its 25th Democracy Day, a non-governmental organisation, Insight Initiative for Community and Social Development has sought for concerted efforts from all stakeholders to make the local government system in the country, more effective and repositioned for the delivery of good governance to Nigerians.
In the last two and a half decades, Nigeria has seen a transition from military rule to civilian leadership, with its attendant challenges of institutional decay and corruptive tendencies that has affected the growth of the nation, in different sectors.
The last quarter of a century of civil rule in the most populous black nation has also seen the modification of the constitution, one that directly and indirectly contributed to the weakening of the local government system, the closest tier of government to the people.
In the commemoration of this anniversary of Democracy in Nigeria, our initiative which has consistently sponsored advocacies on good governance and development oriented causes, is currently seeking to open the local governments in Osun State, to the public, with a view to addressing the challenges of transparency and accountability in governance. Our baby, the Osun Open Local Government Project, that was recently launched seeks to further drive public trust in government and hold those responsible for the commonwealth of the people accountable.
We seek to use this day to seek the support of all and sundry in the repeated calls for a change of attitude of the leadership at the local government level across the country, as well as advocating full autonomy for the closest level of government to the people. We hope that by making them autonomous of the states, the people who are directly concerned with their activities will be enabled to demand more from the elected public officials.
Insight Imitative for Community and Social Development, also joins in the crusade for improved economic policies from the President Bola Tinubu administration, to end the wave of hunger, poverty and rising inflation in the land.
We wish Nigerians a Happy Democracy Day!