A mechanism was developed by the Federal Government to monitor the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), check the contractors and avert poor realization or neglecting the projects nationwide.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millennium Development Goals (SSAP-MDG), Dr. Precious Gbeneol, made this Government’s position known at the weekend, while commissioning two primary health care centres (PHCs) and a water scheme.
Gbeneol spoke thus: “The era of poor implementation and abandonment of projects is over as the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s administration has successfully put in place a mechanism that will effectively place both contractors and officials monitoring MDG projects in proper check.”
Dr. Gbeneol furthermore used the occasion to launch what she termed “enhancing citizens’ engagement protocol for accelerating the attainment of the MDGs in Nigeria”, also known as ‘Amebo’.
Speaking more on the issue, Dr. Gbeneol said the ‘Amebo’ protocol would deepen community engagement by scaling up citizens’ action for participatory governance and development as a means of increasing the drive to achieve the MDGs in Nigeria.
The protocol is designed to develop and strengthen tools and mechanisms to ensure that voices of the communities become part of the decision making process, Dr. Gbeneol said. It will further seek to ensure that communities influenced the outcomes of development projects, as well as enhance local government authorities’ responsiveness to community demand.
Dr. Gbeneol added that the project, launched in 21 local council areas through the Conditional Grant Scheme (CGS), of the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, would further complement government efforts in institutionalising transparency, accountability and entrench good governance in project implementation.
“We are in collaboration with our international development partners, particularly the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with assistance from the Democratic Governance Thematic Trust Fund (DGTTF), in implementing this project,” Dr. Gbeneol said.
Welcoming the Federal Government team earlier in his office, the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, described the new policy as “a worthy move to place citizens, who are the beneficiaries of the projects on the driver’s seat of projects implementation.”
He added that MDG projects in the state had gone a long way in positively impacting the lives of Imo people.
Contributing also, a representative of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Mr. Andrew David Adejo, said the UN was pleased with the efforts of putting the people first.
He added that they are optimistic that the initiative will ensure accountability and further strengthen the fabrics of good governance