Group harps on enhancing collaboration between Legislatures, CSOs

From:Femi Oyelola Kaduna

To strengthen the advocacy for better legislation that will improve the lives of Kaduna residents the Civil Society-Legislature Engagement & Accountability Platform (CLEAP) has harped on enhancing collaboration between

Legislatures and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

These were the views of participants at the two-day Technical Session on Strengthening Citizens’ Participation in the Audit Process with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Office of the Auditor-General of State, and Local Governments in collaboration with the Civil Society-Legislature Engagement & Accountability Platform (CLEAP).

Mr. Yusuf Goje of  CLEAP said

improving understanding of key steps of the legislatures will enhance the credibility and role of CSOs as drivers of change for sustainable development in Kaduna State.

It is observed that lawmakers from Kaduna State House of Assembly, senior Civil Servants from the Planning and  Budget Commission, the Auditor General Office FISCAL policy Commission and civil society groups participated at the Sesaon facilitated by Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL) a UK-supported governance program.

Mr. Goje remembers the Lawmakers that citizens, who are the constituents, voted

on their behalf to make laws, oversight and evaluate the activities of the. Executive

According to him, legislators represent the diversity,

interests, aspirations, and voices of citizens and are mandated to consult and be accountable to the citizens on their legislative

activities in a Constituency via town-hall meetings or any other forum. Collaborate to hold the executive accountable

Speaking on CLEAP he explained that a platform was established between civil society and

legislature for sustainable engagement and social

accountability towards improving the quality of service

delivery and living standards of the residents of Kaduna State.