News Editor
By Edwin Philip
The Special Assistant to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement in the North Central Nigeria, Mrs Abiodun Essiet , has disclosed that President has been looking into all the issues and concerns highlighted during the last protest with a view to profering appropriate and sustainable solutions. This, according to her, would be streamlined through the Citizen Assembly platform, which was lunched at the presidential Villa in July this year.
She said what was happening in Lafia was a replication of the of the Citizen Assembly in Nasarawa State tailored to coincide with the occasion of the comomeration of this year’s World Humanitarian Day celebration put together by the Nasarawa State ministry of Special Duties, Humanitarian Services and Non Governmental organizations (NGOs) at the Aliyu Akwe Doma Banquet hall in Lafia.
The World Humanitarian Day was set aside to honour humanitarian workers for thier services and sacrifices including those who paid the Supreme price or were injured in the cause of their respective assignments. Also, the day was dedicated to recognizing and honouring all Aid and health workers worldwide.
The Senior Special Assistant, (SA) to the President said the platform is where citizens can air and vent their concerns about governance and what concerns their daily lives as Nigerians, because Representatives of the President, Ministers and government officials are also part of it, listening to concerns and driving some of those issues gor solutions. She, therefore, called on citizens of Nasarawa State to explore how they can participate in the Citizen Assembly for maximum benefits.
She informed the gathering that
“I am personally and officially on the platform listening to concerns and dispatching feedback to Mr. President on whatever the issues, so it is an opportunity because the #endbadgovernance protest was just to share their concerns, why not join the platform that is already exsting to share your concerns, everyday we protest on the Assembly, there is no need protesting on the streets when you have representative of the President and different Minister in the Citizen Assembly. they are ready to hear those concerns and ang take beneficial remedial actions against those concerns. She assured that the Citizens Assembly is open to all and is a voluntary platform. but the most important further explaining that everyone should share the information devoid of politics ”
She added that the platform is set up in the North Central region to engaged and empower citizens in line with President Tinubu’s commitment in integrating divers voices and and perspectives into the decision making process therefore enhancing community development and coasions, as community role in building trust between the Federal government and t citizens, established to direct connection ensuring that the voice of the people are heared considered in the corridors of power.
“As we realized the full potential of renewed hope agenda in response to this urgent needs and is part of the committment in improving lives ensuring effective service delivery we initiated Citizen Assembly in the North Central region this initiative is more than a platform, it is a movement, it is an opportunity for our to step forward to share their views and actively participate in the process of good governance, Mr President renewed hope agenda that governance must not just be a one way street.” She added.
Speaking at the event the Governor of Nasarawa State Engr. Abdullahi Sule , commended the Ministry of Special Duties on Humanitarian Services and NGO, headed by by Princess, Dr. Margaret Elayo, as commissioner, for the Initiative in cascading the celebration of World Humanitarian Day for the first time since the creation of Nasarawa State.
Governor Sule represented by his Deputy, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, said that Nasarawa State carefully drated a theme for the maids edition of the celebration of humanitarian canival to be citizen role in Nation Building inorder to capture the mode of the nation as against the 2024 global theme which is Act for Humanity.
” Let me State without mincing words that world this administration has catered for the humanitarian needs of our citizens to ensure full protection of livelihood all and sundry particularly the vulnerable in the society, this is the responsibility of government and we pledged to uphold it for the good of our people, that is why during trying times, this government did not relent in it efforts of providing palliative support to cushion, the peculiar attributes in this connection we distributed food items at various intervals to people across the country as part of humanitarian support to alleviate the sufferings of the poor and vulnerable in our society”
He appreciated ministries, departments and agencies, NGOs, for providing humanitarian support to people in the spirit of the this year’s world humanitarian day.
On her part, the commissioner Nasarawa State ministry of Special Duties in Humanitarian Services and Non Governmental organizations, Princess Dr. Margaret Elayo, said the week long program, featured healthy walk, outdoor games, debates between tertiary institutions in the States, feeding of over 200 hundreds Almajiris and deworming them and the inauguration of Citizens Assembly.
“Humanity is a daily activities, one day is dedicated for the world humanitarian day does not mean we are not going to continue in the service of humanity, we have to embark on this journey to God be the glory it is a great success, today we glad because we have the connection with the people that matters, a lot of stakeholders, taken Almajiris off the streets, done slot of medical outreach for the people of Nasarawa State, your Excellency Sir we can’t help everyone but everyone can help everyone, the simple act of kindness are far more powerful than a thousand hands clapping and bowing in prayers” she said.
She thanked Governor Sule for the giving her the platform to express her humanitarian nature as a trained social worker and lover of humanity.
Several organizations presented papers on divers topics, with the guest lecturer been the immediate past Vice Chancellor of Nasarawa State University Keffi, professor Muhammed Bala Sulaiman, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Barrister Labaran gave a vote of thanks unbehalf of other commissioners in State among other Goodwill messages and presentations.
Present at event where members of the State Assembly, led by the Speaker, Danladi Jatau, traditional rulers, party chieftains, civil society leaders among others.
