Centre for Human Rights, Health, Ethnic Harmony and Livelihood Development (CHHELD) AKA Harmony Centre in partnership with British Councils EU-ACT programme carried out a project titled ‘improving citizens participation in Local Government Administration in Rivers State.

The project seeks to promote participatory governance at the local government level by equipping citizens with the right knowledge to engage in planning, executing and monitoring a coherent governing plan that is based on the interests and priorities of citizens. It is aimed at contributing to a just society that is hinged on the principles of inclusiveness, liberty, equality and cooperation that allows greater citizens participation in decisions affecting them.

The project will ensure that residents of Asari-Toru and Degema local government area of Rivers State are effectively driving development agenda, transparency and accountability practices through productive engagement with local government public office holders and contributing to Local Government Administration.

The objectives of the project are that:

• The Citizens of Asari-Toru and Degema Local Government Areas of Rivers State are mobilizing members of their communities and engaging in inclusive governance in their local government before the end of the project year.

• The Citizens of Asari-Toru and Degema Local Government Areas of Rivers State have increased awareness of principles of good governance.

• 32 Right Holders (citizens) of Asari-Toru and Degema Local Government Areas of Rivers State reached through direct engagement demonstrating knowledge of local government operating guidelines, the importance of inclusive budgeting and how it guides government’s economic and development programmes and policy decision, and the need to demand for public accountability.

• 10,000 Right Holders (citizens) of Asari-Toru and Degema Local Government Areas of Rivers State reached through podcast are demonstrating knowledge of local government operating guidelines, the importance of inclusive budgeting and how it guides government’s economic and development programmes and policy decision, and the need to demand for public accountability.

• 10,320 Right Holders (citizens) of Asari-Toru and Degema Local Government Areas of Rivers State reached through Citizens Radio are demonstrating knowledge of local government operating guidelines, the importance of inclusive budgeting and how it guides government’s economic and development programmes and policy decision, and the need to demand for public accountability.

• 2 Local Government Area Chairmen of Degema and Asaritoru LGA are rendering account to the public through 4 media charts.

• 8 Citizens Radio – Local Government Must Join Hand Develop My Community events will be held.

To mobilize members of Asari- Toru and Degema Local Government Area to engage in inclusive Governance in their Local Government, CHHELD in partnership with the British Councils EU-ACT programme conducted town hall meetings in four communities ( Ipokuma, Sama, Obuama and Ido) cut across the two Local Government areas of ASALGA and DELGA. To select 32 grassroots persons (young men and women, and People Living with Disabilities) from the four communities, to build their capacity, to articulate group interests and exercise their legal rights to engage their local government authorities to meet the interest and priority of their communities and also evaluate performance without any hindrance.

Prior to the town meetings, CHHELD carried out Advocacy and familiarization visit to community leaders in Degema LGA.  The essence of the visit was to seek buy-in of the community leadership in the project and cooperation. These visits were successful and in no small way, contributed to the success of the Town Hall Meetings.

To kick off the town hall meetings, the Executive Director CHHELD, Dandyson Harry Dandyson & the Project Officer Ikechukwu Chukwu introduced CHHELD and purpose of the town hall meeting. They informed the community members about the criteria for selection of the 32 persons as they must involve women and PLWD, the selected persons must have basic knowledge to read and write and this process will be carried out by the community members themselves this is to promote internal community democracy, Inclusion and promote Participation.

Pictures taken during the town hall meetings:

The Executive Director of CHHELD, Dandyson Harry Dandyson making a presentation @ HRH King Ewelle 1st Memorial Town Hall IDO to community members on the need for Community  Participation in Local Government  Administration 11th February 2022.
 Photograph of a cross section of IDO community members filling the attendance form distributed by CHHELD during the town hall meeting 11th February 2022.
Group photograph of CHHELD team and a cross section of Ido community members after the town hall meeting sponsored by the British Council EU-ACT Program on 11th February 2022.
The Executive Director of CHHELD Dandyson Harry Dandyson making a presentation to Sama community members about the need for Local Government Participation in their community 10th February 2022.
Group photograph of CHHELD team and a cross section of community members after the town hall meeting in Sama sponsored by the British Council EU-ACT Program on 10th February 2022.
A chief of Obuama community making contributions during the town hall meeting sponsored by the British Council EU-ACT Program on 16th February 2022.
A concerned woman of Obuama community asking questions about the implementation process of the project ’IMPROVING CITIZENS PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION IN RIVERS STATE’ sponsored by the British Council EU-ACT Program on 16th February 2022.
Project Officer CHHELD, Chukwu Ikechukwu informing Ipokuma community members about need for communities to participate in Local Government Administration processes at their community town square on the 17th February 2022.
A concerned youth of Ipokuma community asking questions about the duration of the project.
Group photograph of CHHELD team, a cross section of Ipokuma community members, Chiefs/Elders after the town square meeting sponsored by the British Council EU-ACT Program on 17th February 2022.
CHHELD team and Degema Council of Chiefs after a courtesy visit to notify and seek their support for the Organization of Town Hall Meetings to select Grassroots persons as Advocates for Local Government Accountability and Transparency
Courtesy visit to High Chief Omubo Atuboinoma Harry, Vice Chairman Obuama Council of Chiefs, Chairman/National Director South-South Chiefs and Elders at his residence to notify and seek his support for the Organization of Town Hall Meetings to select 8 Grassroots persons as Advocates for Local Government Accountability and Transparency.
CHHELD team and High Chief Omubo Atuboinoma Harry at his residence, Atuboinoma Polo Compound Obuama, Degema LGA, Rivers State after the courtesy visit.

Milestones that have been achieved during this Quarter of the project:

  • Town Hall meetings in 4 communities to select 32 grassroots persons (young men and women, and People Living with Disabilities))
  • 32 Persons (PLWD and Females inclusive) selected for training as Agents for LGA Accountability and Transparency –Team Members (ALAT-Team) in their respective community.
  • Citizens of Asari Toru and Degema Local Government Areas of Rivers State have started mobilizing and guiding members to engage in inclusive governance of their local government.
  • A total of 473 Persons attended the Town Hall Meetings in 4 communities. 232 persons are male while 241 are females. 6 of the males and 1 female are persons living with disability.
  • Community persons have increased awareness of good governance.
  • As result of this project, the community has an improved awareness of the need to include PLWDs and other marginalised groups in decision making, even as PLWDs are demanding for inclusion in community decision making.
  • Also women as was the case in Sama and Ido Communities are demanding for inclusion and representation in decision making in the community.

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