By Grace Abe

The Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting grassroots development to cascade President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda across the country.

The Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr Zephaniah Jisalo, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja, at the 3rd Quarter Stakeholders Interactive and Citizens Engagement Forum.

The forum had the theme: “Strengthening Grassroots Development through Effective Intergovernmental Collaboration and the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

Jisalo said the theme underscored the importance of collaboration among all tiers of government and relevant stakeholders in translating government policies into tangible benefits for Nigerians.

“The ministry remains committed to facilitating effective intergovernmental relations and supporting the implementation of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.

The minister explained that the forum was built on the outcomes of the Maiden Annual National Conference of the 774 Local Government Council Chairmen and Chairmen of Traditional Rulers’ Councils held in Abuja.

He noted that the conference addressed critical grassroots development issues, including community security, food security, local government financial autonomy and effective project monitoring.

According to him, the recommendations require practical action, including electronic tracking of development projects, stronger collaboration between local government councils and traditional institutions, and the promotion of agricultural development through Public-Private Partnerships.

Jisalo added that the forum provided an opportunity to review those resolutions and identify effective implementation strategies.

“Our collective responsibility is to strengthen coordination among the federal, state, and local governments, promote citizens’ participation and ensure transparency and accountability in the delivery of development projects.

“Together, through purposeful collaboration and collective responsibility, we can strengthen grassroots governance and improve the welfare of our citizens,” Jisalo said.

He further noted that the Government Integrated Special Project Monitoring Information System (GISPMIS), an electronic project-tracking mechanism, would support the effective monitoring of Zonal Intervention and Constituency Projects (ZIP/CP).

This, he said, would be possible provided relevant institutions supply accurate and timely information.

He stressed the crucial roles of traditional institutions, civil society, the private sector, and citizens in enhancing community security, creating jobs, and advancing sustainable grassroots development.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Onwosoro Ihemelandu, said the engagement was necessary to evaluate conference resolutions and chart practical steps for their implementation.

“I encourage all participants to offer practical recommendations that will strengthen accountability, improve service delivery and ensure that government programmes deliver tangible benefits to citizens at the grassroots,” Ihemelandu said.

Also speaking, the Director of Projects and Programmes Department in the ministry, Mr Mohammed Saulawa, urged stakeholders to remain committed to implementing the resolutions.

Saulawa said that the true success of the forum would be measured by the tangible improvements collective efforts bring to local communities across Nigeria.

On his part, Director-General, Institute for Development Synergy, Mr Ejimonu Charles, who presented a review of the resolutions, said grassroots development requires translating policies into measurable results.

“Let us move from resolutions to implementation, from promises to measurable outcomes, and from national policy into visible improvements in the lives of the citizens,” Charles said.  (NAN)

Edited by Philip Yatai