Participation in local dev’t: NW Independent Conciliator launches campaign to fully engage citizens.

Present during the launching ceremony were close collaborators of the PIC, representatives from local councils, youth as well as the press.

Reading from the Decentralisation Law of December 2019 on the institution of the General Code of Regional and Local Authorities, Tamfu Simon Fai said in his opening remarks that regional and local authorities are expected to work in synergy with the population and community-based organisations.

The Public Independent Conciliator revealed that the campaign is launched, following an observation which shows that the population of the North West Region is not aware of their rights and duty to participate in the affairs of councils.

“This activity aligns with the PIC’s mission of defending and protecting rights and freedoms of citizens in their relationship with the region or the councils, as well as promote and protect rights and freedoms along with the PIC’s mission to design and implement measures to combat any direct or indirect discrimination against users of regional or council services,” Tamfu Simon said in his speech.

The campaign which is aimed at informing and educating citizens on their rights and duties to participate in council activities, will take place in the entire North West Region.

Objective of campaign 

According to officials of the Office of the North West Public Independent Conciliator, their target is to reach at least 80% of the active population of the region with messages informing and educating them on their rights to participate in council affairs.

Ndi Nelson, Research Officer at the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator told reporters that the campaign focuses on the rights-based approach, thereby engaging the population to claim their rights.

“We have adopted the rights-based approach because we want the population to understand that it is their right to participate in local development. It is also a duty because the law equally says that they have to participate, and anybody stopping them is violating the law,” Ndi said.

The campaign will involve caravans, town hall meetings with craft messages on rights, with emphasis on duties that enforce citizens’ participation.

Also, the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator will work with media organs in the region, especially community radios where programs shall be recorded and broadcast in all the seven divisions.

The Office of the Public Independent Conciliator shall also be disseminating and displaying campaign gadgets in various communities across the region.

Expected outcome 

The Office of the Public Independent Conciliator for the North West Region is hoping that if this campaign goes successful, at least 50% of adults in the region will be informed on their rights and duties to participate in decision making processes in councils.

Eighty per cent of the persons in voting age will be informed of their right and duty to vote, while 75% of the voting population are registered and have their voters’ cards.

The Office of the Public Independent Conciliator is also hoping that this will cause the population to support their councils and vote for mayors and councilors of their choice, who can work with them for the development of their communities.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3162 of Monday July 8, 2024