By: Farouk Ozigi Onimisi (The White Orator)
The atmosphere is thrilled as there is about to be, a transition of government and continuity of the New Direction Blueprint in North Central Nigerian State (Kogi State). This is following the re-victory of the ruling All Progressives Congress as the ruling party in the Confluence State.
Much have been said in the last eight right years by the White Orator in synchronisation of the GYB-led administration, a then 41 years old man from Agassa. More than anyone, I supposed I should give myself some accolades for the lizard that jumped from the high iroko tree to the ground said he would praise himself if no one else did.
Identifying in the course of the GYB-led administration has led me to many political thoughts and I am more than anyone, evidently optimistic that the victory of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the November 11th 2023 Gubernatorial Election in the Confluence State is no doubt a consolidation of all we have said in the last couple of years courtesy of the GYB-led administration.
While there is series of enlightenment and high spirit of horizon upon the forthcoming transitional government and baton of exchange, it is poetic to say that GYB is going, GYB is coming. This is evident in the scheme of politics of unity and the paraphernalia of sustainable development the GYB-led administration brought to Kogi State.
In the GYB-led administration, there was clear evidence of good governance and of course, operationalising the principles and undertaking related strategic actions that were known to be effective in particular contexts; all essential to taking the work on principles to the next level. This, I would say, empathically, weldone, Ozi Andisa.
We saw clearly, in the GYB-led administration, that the full realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals and other internationally agreed development objectives strongly depends on a common understanding of the basic principles of effective governance for sustainable development.
Basically, the GYB-led administration did justice to the 11 basic principles of sustainable development viz-a-viz clarity of the governance agenda, taking into account, different governance structures, national realities, capacities and levels of development and respecting national policies and priorities, etc. All these were developed by GYB on basically, voluntary basis, building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels, with a view to achieving the shared vision for the people and the planet embodied in the New Direction Blueprint.
Now, for Ododo Ozi Itazi, the next pilot of the Confluence Air Craft, he understands the basics of sustainable development should apply to all public institutions, including the administration of executive and legislative organs, the security and justice sectors, independent constitutional bodies and state corporations. To Ododo, these principles are given depth and made operational through a selection of commonly used strategies and related practices, which are an integral and evolving part of this work.
Below amongst others, are what His Excellency, Alh. Ododo Ahmed, Ododo is bringing to the Kogi State Government:
1. Competence
Ododo understands that to perform his functions effectively, institutions are to have sufficient expertise, resources and tools to deal adequately with the mandates under their authority. Hence commonly used strategies include promotion of a professional public sector workforce, strategic human resources management, leadership development and training of civil servants, performance management, results-based management, financial management and control, efficient and fair revenue administration, and investment in e-government.
2. Sound Policymaking
Ododo understands that to achieve his intended results, public policies are to be coherent with one another and founded on true or well-established grounds, in full accordance with fact, reason and good sense. This regards strategic planning and foresight, regulatory impact analysis, promotion of coherent policymaking, strengthening national statistical systems, monitoring and evaluation systems, science-policy interface, risk management frameworks, and data sharing.
3. Collaboration
His Excellency, Alh. Ododo Ahmed Usman is quite aware that to address problems of common interest, institutions at all levels of government and in all sectors should work together and jointly with non-State actors towards the same end, purpose and effect. This includes centre of government coordination under the Head of State or Government, and collaboration, coordination, integration and dialogue across levels of government and functional areas.
The anticipated government of Ododo/Joel have passed the three principles of accountability below:
1. Integrity
Ododo/Joel are quite aware that to serve in the public interest, they are to discharge their official duties honestly, fairly and in a manner consistent with soundness of moral principle. This is about promotion of anti-corruption policies, practices and bodies, codes of conduct for public officials, competitive public procurement, elimination of bribery and trading in influence, conflict of interest policies, whistle-blower protection, and provision of adequate remuneration and equitable pay scales for public servants
2. Transparency
To ensure accountability and enable public scrutiny, Ododo and Joel are of the informing polity that institutions are to be open and candid in the execution of their functions and promote access to information, subject only to the specific and limited exceptions as are provided by law. Examples are proactive disclosure of information, budget transparency, open government data, registries of beneficial ownership, and lobby registries.
3. Independent Oversight
His Excellencies, Alh. Ododo Ahmed Usman and Comr. Joel Oyibo are quite aware that to retain trust in government, oversight agencies are to act according to strictly professional considerations and apart from and unaffected by others. This covers promotion of the independence of regulatory agencies, arrangements for review of administrative decisions by courts or other bodies, independent audit, and respect for legality.
4. Intergenerational Equity
The Incoming adminstration of Kogi State Government know that to promote prosperity and quality of life for all, the government should construct administrative acts that balance the short-term needs of today’s generation with the longer-term needs of future generations. This includes sustainable development impact assessment, long-term public debt management, long-term territorial planning and spatial development, and ecosystem management.
Farouk Ozigi Onimisi writes from Abuja, Federal Capital Territory
