SUPERVISORS, ADVISERS ON CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FOR LGs/LCDA PAY COURTESY VISIT TO SPECIAL ADVISER

Supervisors and Advisers appointed to replicate the functions of the Office of Civic Engagement at the Local Government and grassroots level have paid a courtesy visit to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Civic Engagement, Princess Aderemi Adebowale.

Welcoming the team to her office, Princess Adebowale disclosed that the Supervisors and Advisers would be saddled with the task of replicating some of the functions of the Office of Civic Engagement to take governance to the doorsteps of the citizens.

The Special Adviser said the courtesy call would also allow the team to understand the primary role of the Office of Civic Engagement, which includes bridging the gap between the government and the governed, initiating, formulating and evaluating policies relating to citizens, as well as organising stakeholders’ cohesion and engagement.

“It would also help you to appraise political and legislative issues for Mr. Governor’s attention, to liaise with the Executive and the Legislature on Political matters, stand as a go-between for the Government and create a congenial atmosphere to enable the Legislature and the Executive work together at all levels”, she said.

Maintaining that these functions, among others, must be effectively replicated at the Local Government level, Princess Adebowale stated that her Office had carried out several social interventions and sensitisation programmes in the 20 LGs and 37 LCDAs including Snacks for Thought, Ideal Child, Road Etiquette, Ilera Eko and Eko Care, among others, to impact the lives of indigent citizens positively.

While emphasising that feedback on the policies and programmes of the State Government at the grassroots is important to the present administration, the Special Adviser urged the visiting team to engage in an effective working collaboration with the OCE to achieve success in their tasks.

Princess Adebowale also revealed that the rebranded Citizens Gate platform, which also has a Mobile App, was designed to serve as an interface with Lagos residents and take governance to their doorsteps, irrespective of social class, for all-inclusive governance.

“The aim of Lagos State Citizens Gate Mobile App is to bring governance closer to the governed. Through the Citizens Gate Mobile App, citizens will be able to perform some functions including filing a feedback form on government services. The platform is segmented into three: namely Citizens Gate Main, Citizens Gate Young and Citizens Gate Tertiary, programmed to deliver political, economic and social benefits to the citizens and investors”, she stated.

The Special Adviser, however, expressed confidence that having a civic engagement office in LGs and LCDAs would make the soon-to-be-launched, rebranded Citizens Gate Mobile App serve as a one-stop shop for the residents in Lagos State.