4TH QUARTER2021PRESS–RELEASE BY KOGINGOs NETWORK (KONGONET) ON 1ST JANUARY,2022.
GentlemenofthePress;
HappyNewYearandWelcometoourSTATEOFKOGIquarterlyPressbriefingbyKONGONET.OnbehalfofthecivilsocietycommunityofKogiState,wewishthestateandhercitizensthebestoftheyear2022.
KogiNGOsNetwork(KONGONET)isacoalitionofCivilSocietyNetworkschampioningthepromotionofparticipatorydemocracy,goodgovernance/bestpractices,accountablegovernanceandnetworkcoordinationinKogiStatethroughadvocacyandpolicyinfluencingforthewell-beingofKogites.
Background
Theyear2021hascometoanend,ayearfilledwithseveraluncertaintiesandyetundoubtedlythestatemadefewinroadstowardssuccess.Thefinalquarteroftheyearwasfilledwithremarkableevents,oneofthestateownedinstitutions,ConfluenceUniversityofScienceandTechnology(CUSTECH)Osaramatriculatedherfirstsetofstudents,theongoingrehabilitationofLokojatownshiproads,thegiantvocationaltrainingcentreongoingatoldstadium,theultramodernsecondaryschoolbuildingongoingatAdankoloLokojaandtheGanajaFlyoverBridge.ThelaterpartofthequartersawtheretirementandappointmentofanewclerkofKogiStatehouseofassemblyandthedeploymentofanewcommissionerofpolicetothestate.Withinthereportingquarter,securitychallengeswerealsoatitspeakasthemothertothecurrentChiefofstafftotheexecutivegovernorwaskidnappedfromherhouse,twoweekslaternoinformationofherwhereabouts.TheKogiStatehouseofassemblypassedthe2022appropriationbillanditwassignedintolawbytheExecutiveGovernoron29thDecember,2022amidstconcernsfromCivilSocietyOrganizations(CSOs)onbudgetdefenceadoptedbytheKogiStateHouseofAssemblyforMinistries,DepartmentandAgencies(MDAs)asagainstpublichearingonthebudget.Thebudgetalsoharbourmoreresourcesforrecurrentexpenditurecomparedtocapitalexpenditure,amajorconcernwasthehugesumbudgetedtobespentingovernmenthouse,anofficethatdoesn’tgeneraterevenue.Therateofsuspensionofelectedchairmenwithoutimmediatemechanismtoinvestigateandactaccordinglytoensuretheyreturnbacktoofficeifclearedorsupplementaryelectionisdonetoreplacethemiffoundguiltyofanycrimeisamajorconcern.
HealthIssues:
CivilSocietyforHIV/AIDSinNigeria(CiSHAN)markedworldaidsdayincollaborationwithKogiStateAgencyfortheControlofAids(KOSACA),CenterforIntegratedHealthProject(CIHP)alongsideotherImplementingPartners(IPs)inthestate.Theepilepticfundingofhealthprogramsinstatestillremainachallenge,thecelebrationofWorldAidsDay(WAD)wasnotproperlyfundedbythestateandtheunusualincreaseinpublichealthchallengessuchasTBwithmorecasesofXDRinthestate,thestateministryofhealthbyextensionthestategovernmentshouldasamatterofurgencycomeupwithstrategiestostemtheravagingTBacrossthestate.CivilSocietygroupswithinthereportingquartermadefranticefforts,mobilized,sensitizedcommunitymembersandobtainedthousandsofsputumsamplestobeanalysedbythestatemanagedGeneXpertsites.WeappreciatetherecentappointmentofExecutiveSecretary(ES)fortheKogiStateAgencyfortheControlofAids(KOSACA),meanwhiletheboardoftheagencyisyettobeappointedandinauguratedforproperfunctioning.
Withinthereportingquarter,three(3)CivilSocietyOrganizations(CSOs)inthestatepartneredwiththestategovernmenttoensurepropersensitizationandmobilizationofcitizensacrossthestatetotakeuptheirCOVID-19vaccination.Theorganizationscarriedoutseriesofadvocacyvisitsandorganizedsensitizationworkshopsforstakeholdersacrossthestate.Weareindeedgladthatfinallywearemakingprogressatde-sensitizingkogitesoftheinitialmythsthatCOVID-19isnotreal.
AgriculturalInterventionIssues:
Asusual,lessthan30%ofbudgetaryallocationforministryofAgriculturewasexpendedin2021,lotsofactivitiesplannedfortheyearasprovidedintheagriculturalbudget2021sufferedlackofimplementation,therainsaregone,the2021budgetcyclehasended.AllthisanomaliesinthemanagementofKogiStateAgriculturalsectorwillcontinuetoposeseriouschallengefortheStateintermsofFoodSecurityandwell-beingofthecitizens.
TheKogiStateBudgetCommitteeGroup(BCG)ledbyMr.MatthiasA.Okpanachireviewed,analysedandx-rayedtheKogiState2022ApprovedbudgetonhowtheStateAgriculturalsectorisbeingfundedandpositionedforgrowth;assuch,creatingemploymentfortheteemingyouth,meetingthedomesticfoodrequirementsandgeneratingforeignrevenuethroughtheexportofqualityprocessedagriculturalcommodities.Theoutcomeoftheanalysisshowsthattheallocationtotheagriculturalsectorisgrosslyinadequateandinsensitivetocurbinginsecuritythroughagriculture.Lessthan5%of#145.8Billionhasbeenbudgetedtofeedover4millionKogitesin2022withaverybadrecordoffundsreleasetothesectorovertheyears.
Itwillberecalledthatthenewdirectionblueprintofthecurrentadministrationstatesthat“basedonprevailingeconomicrealities,AgricultureisthekeytounlockingtheenormouseconomicpotentialsofKogiState”.ItalsopromisedthattheGovernmentwillboosttheAgriculturesectoranditsvaluechainasaprofitableStatestimulatedventureandencourageorganizedbusinessenterprisetoleaddevelopmentofAgricultureintheState.TheGovernorofKogiState,AlhajiYahayaAdozaBellowhilstdeclaringastateofemergencyinAgriculturetoboostfoodproductionanddiversifytheState’seconomyinJanuary2017promisedtomakefarmersintheStateespeciallywomenfarmersrichandthatthegovernmenthavestrategizesandplansinplacetorevolutioniseAgriculturebygivingnecessarysupporttofarmersinformofloans,land,cooperativesandotherrelevantassistance.WeputthequestiontohisExcellency,howcanwerevolutionizetheagriculturalsectorofKogistatewithlessthan20%budgetaryallocationreleasesoutof6.58%budgetaryallocationtotheagriculturalsectorin2021asatAugust2021andlessthan5%budgetaryallocationforyear2022.Arewebetterof,intermsoffoodproductioninthestateafterfour(4)yearsofthepromise?Dowehaveaffordableagriculturalproduceinthestatenow?
EducationSector:
WecongratulatethestaffandmanagementofConfluenceUniversityofScienceandTechnology(CUSTECH),OsaraKogiStateforhersuccessfulmatriculationofthefirstsetofstudents.WeappreciatetheExecutiveGovernorfortheforesight,congratulations.
Withinthereportingperiod,theCivilSocietyActionCoalitiononEducationforAll(CSACEFA)lamentedthecontinuousreductiononthequalityofbasiceducationinthestate,hingedonnon-paymentoffullsalariestobasiceducationteachersacrosslocalgovernmentareasofthestateandnon–maintenanceofbasicschoolinfrastructuresdespitehavinginplaceelectedchairmenacrossthestate.Thecoalitionlooksforwardtoamicablewaystobeadoptedbyrelevantauthoritiestosolvethispuzzlewhichhasthecapabilityofcripplingthestatebasiceducationsectorwhichservesasthefoundationforallformsofeducation.
SocialWelfareIssues:
ThereportedincreaseinrapecasesacrossthestatecallsforaseriousconcernbearinginmindthattheKogiStateHouseofAssemblygraciouslypassedtheViolenceAgainstPersonsProhibition(VAPP)billoverthree(3)monthsago,yettheExecutiveGovernorhasnotassentedthebill.Thisserveasriskfactortotheuniversalcallfortheprotectionofhumanrights,KogiStatecannotaffordtobeonwrongsideofhistoryinhumanrightsprotection.
FederationofWomenLawyers(FIDA)KogiStatewithinthereportingquartermadeahugeprogressincivilresolutionofdomesticviolence,womenabuseandchildcustodycasesacrossthestate,whilestillpursuingotherscasesincourt.TheyhavealsogoneaheadtolaunchamentorshipprogramatSalemUniversitytotrainlawstudentsonFIDAinterventionconcepts.Markingthe202116daysactivismagainstgenderbasedviolence,theyproducedchildfriendlyversionofthestateChildRightsLaw(CRL)andaswellcarriedoutroadshowsandcampaignsagainstgenderbasedviolence.
PoliticalEnvironment:
TheactivitiesofCoalitiononCivicEducation(CCE)inKogiStatehavespuruptheneedforcreatingspecialtrustfundtosupportwomeninpoliticsacrossthestate.ThisrenewedagitationhasalwaysbeenaimedatensuringthatwomenareempoweredtoovercomethesocialandeconomicbarriersinourneolithicpoliticalspaceofKogiState.OnKogiandOkenelocalgovernmentchairmencurrentlyonsuspension,theoutcomeoftheinvestigationshouldbemadepublicsotherightstepsaretakeneithertheyreturnbacktotheirpositionifnosubstantialwrongdoinghasbeenestablishedagainstthemorconductsupplementaryelectiontofilltheposition,wecannotaffordtogobacktotheideaofappointinglocalgovernmentadministratorinthenameofacting,notagain.KONGONETspecificallycallonthegoodcitizensofthestatetojoininthedecisionmakingarenaanddevelopthestate,wecannotaffordtoallstayaloofwhilethosewhoneverreallyhadthedevelopmentalinterestofthestatefindthemselvesadministeringthestate.Wecallonyoualltojoindevelopmentalpoliticsandsanitizethesystem.
Infrastructure:
TherehasbeenanoticeableimprovementinthequalityofroadsintheStatecapitalLokoja.However,thelevelofworkattheGanajaflyoverisbecomingacauseofworrytoCitizens,especiallythehealthandeconomicchallengesthatthepersistenton-goingconstructioniscausing.TheGovernmenthasalwaysinsistedonDecember31st2021asthecompletionandcommissioningdate,butfromfactsonground,thisdateisnolongertenableandthereissilenceonthepartofthegovernmentonthis.
ThereisalsotheissueofTransparencyintheexecutionoftheroadprojectsastherearenoinformationboardsonthecosts,andcompaniesimplementingthisconstruction.Alsotenderingofthepublicprojects,whichisarequirementoftheFiscalresponsibilityLawandthePublicProcurementLaw,isshroudedinmystery.
Recommendations:
NeedfortheStateGovernmenttoappointandinaugurateboardmembersforKogiStateAgencyfortheControlofAids(KOSACA),toimprovecoordinationoftheStateHIVResponse.
Thatthestategovernmentensurethebudgetaryallocationtotheministryofagricultureisreleasedtimelytopreventthestatefromslidingintomajorfoodcrisis,andalsospecialattentionbegiventowomenfarmersacrossthestate.
NeedfortheStateintheshortrun,toincreaserecruitmentofVigilantesinhighcrimerateareastocomplimenttheservicesoftheNigerianSecurityAgenciesandimprovetheSecurityoflivesandproperties.
NeedforaconciseandstrategicapproachtoaddressingDrugAbuseandCultismamongtheyouths.
MinistryofWomenAffairsandSocialDevelopmenttopartnerwithMinistryofJusticetowardsestablishmentandoperationalizationofSexOffenderRegisterinKogiState.
NeedforasustainablemechanismforimprovingCitizenParticipationandengagementintheelectoralprocessestodeepenAccountabilityandTransparencyinGovernance.
NeedfortheGovernortoAssenttotheVAPPBillwhichhasbeenpassedbytheKogiStateHouseofAssemblyorinthealternativestatehisreasonsfornotaccenting.
IncreaseallocationandreleaseoffundstotheAgricultureBudgetbyvirementofresourcesfromtheGovernor’sOffice(AllowancesIncidentaltoGovernor’sTravel).
NeedforurgentcompletionandpublicdeclarationonthecostoftheGanajaFlyoverprojecttobuildconfidenceofcitizensinGovernmenthandlingofpublicresources.
Weurgethestategovernmenttohastenupandcompleteallrehabilitationworkscurrentlyongoingacrossthestate,mostimportantlytherehabilitationofKogiStateSpecialistHospital,Lokoja.
Wecongratulateandwelcomethenewcommissionerofpolice(CPEdwardEgbuka)tothestate,weurgehimtobringonboardtherequiredleadershipskillstocoordinatesecurityapparatusinthestateandensurethesafetyoflivesandpropertiesofKogites.
Inconclusion:
KogiNGOsNetwork(KONGONET)willconsistentlysupportlaudableinitiativesofgovernmenttoamelioratethesufferingofKogitesandensurethestateupholdsthetenetsofdemocracyandfairplayinheradministrationofourcollectiveresources.KONGONETshallcontinuetoengagethestategovernmentontheadoptionandimplementationofOpenGovernmentPartnership(OGP).
God Bless Kogi State.
IdrisOzoveheMuraina Mrs.HenryHellen
Chairperson,KONGONET Secretary,KONGONET
TheExecutiveDirectorof TheExecutiveDirectorof
RenaissanceCareandEmpowermentFoundation(RECEF) ImproveAchoziFoundation(IAF)