Written evidence submitted by the Society
for the Widows and Orphans
GOVERNANCE
Generally governance in Nigeria is still at
the neolithic stage with lots of policies and innovations like
the re-branding process etc. Nigerians have laissez-faire attitude
in adoption and integration of development policies. This is as
a result of selfish attitudes of most of the citizens in authority.
Lack of transparency and injustice abound. All these cut-across
the three tiers of government.
RURAL POVERTY
AND RURAL
LIVELIHOODS
Despite the efforts of donor agencies and Nigerian
Government in the area of poverty alleviation, poverty is still
predominantly felt in the rural communities. This leaves very
much to be desired as a good number are still living below poverty
level. Hence the need for intensive and effective monitoring mechanism
in development projects.
THE MANAGEMENT
OF OIL
WEALTH AND
TRANSPARENCY IN
THE INDUSTRY
With the present Administration of Alhaji Musa
Yaradua one can say that the management of oil wealth has improved.
This is as a result of the sanitization exercise carried out by
the Federal Government. More needs to be done in the oil sector
as there is still lack of transparency which brings about sabotage
and violence in the oil producing states and communities.
BASIC SERVICE
DELIVERY
This areas needs attention as the Public Private
Partnership (PPP) is only in word and not in practice. The government
only call on civil society organisations when they need technical
assistance to develop a program and not ready to engage them on
service delivery as they (government officials) use this area
to enrich themselves, hence the abandoned projects in the Nation.
Political parties use Board Membership to settle their party members
who are incapable at the detriment of the poor masses.
THE IMPACT
OF DEBT
RELIEF ON
POVERTY REDUCTION
Debt relief gave birth to a lot of poverty alleviation
programmes in the Nation ie conditional grant scheme. This fund
has been accessed by many states but the impact is yet to be felt
in the rural communities.
DFID'S SUPPORT
FOR THE
ELECTORAL PROCESS
AND TO
THE NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY
The Joint Donor Basket Fund on Electoral Reforms
(JDBF) which the DFID is one, is a healthy development as it has
gone a long way in curbing electoral malpractices and assisting
in the electoral reform process. Gaps are being identified in
Civil Society Co-ordinating Committee on Electoral Reforms and
these issues need to be addressed. The Transition Monitoring Group
Management needs to be looked into and vital mismanagement issues
addressed.
THE ROLE
OF CIVIL
SOCIETY AND
DFID'S SUPPORT
FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF
VOICE AND
ACCOUNTABILITY
Some civil society members have been trained
by DFID to assist in mobilising and sensitising communities, giving
them voice to be able to demand their rights from their Representatives
and Executives in Government. The CSOs are in between the government
and legislative. This programme is not yet laudable as it has
not spread to most of the states local government and communities
that are in dire need of it.
ECONOMIC GROWTH
AND THE
IMPACT OF
DFID'S PROGRAMME
In this area, complacency on the part of leaders,
inconsistency in policy implementation corruption, multiplier
effect of energy crisis conflicts, decay in infrastructural facilities
and more are all issues of concern in economic growth of the Nation.
DFID's projects in Good Governance and Accountability, Health
and Economic Development has brought meaningful effect in Nigeria
generally.
POLICY COHERENCE
IN THE
UK GOVERNMENT'S
APPROACH
One would say that the UK Government's approach
is commendable. Involvement of more credible Civil Society Organisations
(NGO's etc) would facilitate functional and sustainable social
service delivery system.
DONOR COORDINATION
Donor Coordination in Nigeria now, is a healthy
development as it assists in curbing corruption and waste of resources
ie Joint Donor Basket Fund/United Nations Development Assistance
Framework (UNDAF). Coordination of Donor Agencies now calls for
realistic Innovations, Reformation, Adoption and Integration of
development processes and programmes.
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