By Amos Tauna
Rabi Abdulsalam, Special Adviser on Women and Youth development to Governor Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufai of Kaduna State, has noted with delight that Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, have crucial roles to play towards ensuring that government meet the needs of the people.
Speaking at a learning meeting organized by Civil Society Organizations, the Special Adviser enjoined CSOs and residents of Kaduna state to strengthen their support for government programmes, adding that they were meant to enhance the living standards of the people.
She assured that Governor El-Rufai is open and always ready to listen to people’s opinion on the affairs of the state and how it is being run, “Governor El-Rufai has a listening ear to the yearnings and aspirations of the people.
“He has a dream of making Kaduna great and that is exactly what he is doing in these four years of his stewardship to the state,” se said.
The Executive Director, Aid Foundation, Emmanuel Bonet, said the meeting was an opportunity for Civil Society Organizations and other stakeholders in the state to appreciate what the state government was doing with a view to offering ideas that meant to help the government understand the challenges people are paasing through.
He said the meeting was meant to share experiences among different implementers of government projects as well share amongst various groups challenges some communities were facing in terms of provision of social amenities by different government departments in the state.
A participant, Malam Mohammed Ahmed from Angwar Muazu, Kaduna expressed confidence that the meeting would give the various participants the opportunity to express problems various communities were facing in terms of lack of social amenities.
He called on Kaduna State government to ensure the sustenance of Civil Society Organizations in the state, pointing out that they would serve as a strong force that will provide the government with the necessary information for a better result at the end of its tenure.
“The only way government can get to know the real challenges some communities are experiencing is through the Civil Society Organizations that are spread all over the state and know the problems of the people especially in the rural areas,” he noted.
Other participants who also shared their views on the outcome of the meeting noted with satisfaction steps taken by the Kaduna State government to get the view of people, groups and organizations on the best way they should be governed.
