The Office of the Public Independent Conciliator North-West Region after conducting a survey on council functioning, took interest in launching a campaign on Citizen's Participation participation in Local Development.
This is the 2nd campaign after that on the Free Issuance of Civil Status Documents in 2023. The Campaign on Citizen's Participation in Local Development is aimed at engaging the local population in development initiatives in council areas.
The Public Independent Conciliator (PIC) for the North-West Region launched a campaign to promote citizens' participation in local development initiatives on July 4th 2024 in Bamenda, which was covered live by the State media in the presence of the accredited Press media men and some development stakeholders.
According to the Public Independent Conciliator, Mr TAMFU Simon FAI,
"the objective of this campaign is to reach out to at least 80% of the active population (the Decision making age group) of the north west region with messages informing and educating them on their rights to participate in councils affairs and decision-making processes concerning their welfare and development".
"There is need to unleash the dynamics and energies of the local masses to take charge of their welfare and issues through active participation in council affairs", The Public Independent Conciliator North-West Region.
The campaign aims at empowering the local population to take a more active role in shaping the development of their communities.
According to Ndi Nelson, Research Officer no. 1 of the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator North-West Region, explained the motivation behind the campaign which stems from a recent survey conducted by the office.
The survey revealed a concerning level of detachment between the population and their local councils. Many citizens were found to be unaware of their mayors, councilors, and the activities of their local governments.
"This situation was unacceptable," said Nelson. "An institution that is supposed to work closely with the population cannot function effectively without their active involvement."
The survey also uncovered several cases of misdirected budgets, mismanaged priorities, and lack of accountability in local councils, which the PIC believes can be attributed to the absence of citizen oversight and participation.
Research officer Ndi Nelson emphasized the urgency of citizen participation as An institution designed to work with the population cannot function effectively when the very people it serves remain uninformed and disengaged.
"With the upcoming devolution of power, where more responsibilities will be given to local councils, it becomes crucial for communities to recognize their pivotal role in shaping local development.”
The campaign will employ a multi-pronged approach to achieve its objectives. It will focus on educating the population about their rights and responsibilities in local governance, as well as working with local authorities to create enabling environments for citizen participation, such as establishing neighborhood committees and facilitating public consultations.
"Our goal is to empower the population to defend their rights and actively engage with their local leaders," said Nelson. "We want to make it clear to the mayors that it is their duty to facilitate this participation and not hinder it."
The launch of the campaign was attended by members of the press, who were invited to ask questions and learn more about the PIC's efforts to promote civic engagement at the local level.
The campaign is expected to run for the next 3 months, with the PIC ensuring the successful implementation of the initiative.
As the campaign gains momentum, citizens are urged to take ownership of their local governance.
By participating actively, they can shape policies, influence resource allocation, and drive meaningful development. Mayors, too, must recognize their duty to facilitate citizen participation. Only through collaboration can we build stronger, more resilient communities.
By Bamenjo Petronilla