PORT-HARCOURT – Partners of the strengthening Advocacy and Civil Engagement (SACE) Project in the Niger Delta have called on the National and State Assemblies to step up oversight duties on Niger Delta Institutions such as the Ministry of Niger Delta, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the state Oil and Gas Commission.
In a communiqué issued at the end of a civil education forum held recently in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, SACE Project Partners also called on the institutions to be open transparent and more accountable to the people of the region.
The communiqué which was signed by eight partners of USAID/SACE project amongst them: Innocent Edemhanria of ANEEJ, Benin, Emeka Ononamadu of Citizen Centre for Integrated Development and Social Right, Owerri and Dr. (Mrs.) Uduak Okon of Youth Alive Foundation also called for social inclusion in governance to address development gaps, Niger Delta states and Institutions should ensure greater citizens participation, improved access to governance information for citizens and coordination among them to create trust between government and citizens.
“The appropriation laws (budgets) of Niger Delta states should be open, participatory and easily accessible”, the group requested.
While decrying the high level of youth unemployment in the region, SACE partners urged the Federal Government and Niger Delta States to take urgent step to address youth unemployment through well-tailored policies for young people’s development and participation.
The called for Agricultural policies that will increase food production and inclusive economic development which will contribute to job creation for youths and women.
