CLIP Project of JDPC,Awka Particpants call for effective engagement with House of Assembly members

www.odogwublog.com reports that participants at a one day workshop on Legislative Advocacy Project titled Community and Legislative members interactive Platform Project (CLIP Project) organized by the Justice Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC) Awka has ended in Awka with a call for a robust advocacy for effective communication between communities and their state House of Assembly representatives on community development project an policy legislation.

This the participants numbering over One hundred (100) argued would assist the communities in taking part in making decisions that affect their lives and raise their voices to demand for the rights and services to which they are entitled.

The participants drawn from six constituencies as pilot constituencies including Awka South 1 and 2, Awka North , Dunukofia , Orumba North and Orumba South agreed to carry out advocacy visits for local government autonomy, Disability Rights Bill, Budgeting and constituency office issues.

The CLIP project funded by Catholic Caritas Foundation/Caritas Nigeria which will last for five (5) months between April and August this year , according to the CLIP Project Program Officer, Mr Ololo Onyekachi Sam is expected to build a strong and sustainable link between legislators and their community members, thereby developing capacities of being able to develop their own means of effectively communicating with their representatives.

This according to Ololo , will stimulate the process of governance as the project shall amplify citizens’ voice and build their capacity to demand for their right from duty bearers using community groups and stakeholders.

He said their target was to create established and functional platform for continuous citizens’ engagement by legislators and increased community members participation and involvement in decision making processes in communities.

Mr Ololo , noted that these laudable targets would be achieved by engaging about 120 community members who would represent their communities as vanguards; 200 community members that would get involved to attend interface/ town hall meetings; Get state Legislators to create or revive functional constituency offices to serve as liaison center to enable community members assess them; To get 50 community members taking actions to get their legislators address the identified gaps and to get 10 communities to present community charter to their representatives for effective over sight functions as well as to get 20 community members to provide detailed reports of cordial relationship and open door access between representatives and communities of the constituencies.

CLIP , Ololo said would be carrying out round table interaction/ issue identification through which areas of need is identified and mass mobilized through community charter for resolution ; advocacy visits to state House of Assembly representatives by using already formed structures to embark on advocacy on the issues discovered as well as formation of CLIP Vanguards from focus communities for stepping down of training.

He said further that CLIP would use constituency Town hall meeting which provides all inclusive safe space approach to development as it regards to norms and traditions that prevent participation of all in the community, using facilitators of gender disaggregated groups of adult male, adult female , youth male and female. The CLIP project will use capacity building seminar training and building the community members on Right Based Approach (RBA), CLIP Vanguard functions as well as Bi monthly reflection meeting.

Earlier, the Director of JDPC, Awka , Reverend Fr Simon Anigbogu reassured that the Catholic diocese of Awka will continue to push for pro people legislation and social justice at all times even as he urged elected and appointed leaders particularly members of the State House of Assembly to be responsive with their representation for equity , justice and fairness to be seen as to have been done in the society/constituency they have their mandate in trust. 

In his remarks, Chukwura Kingsley of Kingsfaith Development and Youth Empowerment emphasized on the need to engage leaders to be responsive to their electoral promises, even, as he appealed to civil society groups to educate the electorates on the 2019 general election by ensuring that they get their voters cards. He advocated that leaders be asked to account for their stewardship in office by the community or civil society groups organizing a town hall meeting than waiting for the leaders to organize it.

On their part, Adinuba Paulinus C of JDPC, St Edwards Parish Amawbia and Okeke Chioma of Shoulder for Gender Support and Development Initiative as well as Hon Albert Chinwuko , Secretary Community Empowerment Network , Anambra state (COMEN) insisted that illiteracy and poverty constitute major problems of the electorates in communities hence the lack of knowledge of electoral process had made politicians appear as raping the democracy. They said representatives must  be knowledgeable in their Community to be able to be effective.

As well , President General Ajalli Welfare Union, Mazi Kanu Christian represented by his PA , Obinna Okoroji; Assistant women leader Ofuobi Youth forum , Enugu Ukwu , Chikodili Okafor and Onor Tochukwu E ,   CBM of COMEN Nise and Comrade Umenwa Ejike P , Secretary General Eziagu town union , decried the attitude of some leaders who promise so many things during campaign but do little to nothing once elected into office, but advocating for serious electorate/ leaders engagement during future elections.

For Anadu Nchedo , Monitoring and Evaluation Officer/ Secretary of JDPC Nnewi and Okoye Abraham , Liaison Officer Civil Society Organization ,Anambra state House of Assembly enjoined the communities to engage their representatives at all times to enable them enjoy the democratic dividends due them.