Oyo restates commitment to stakeholders’ direct engagement

The Oyo State Government has restated its commitment to the direct engagement of its workforce and other stakeholders through several platforms and vehicles especially direct briefings and town hall meetings. 

This, the Government disclosed is to enhance the communication flow between the government and its various publics both internal and external.

This was revealed in a press statement recently by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Olalekan Alli reiterating the Government’s policy on continuous stakeholders’ engagement. 

According to the statement, “Government at its Executive Council meeting of 4^th November, 2016 directed that, in the spirit of good governance (participatory management, accountability, transparency, openness and effective communication amongst others), Government’s top functionaries must engage their various stakeholders and publics more frequently. 

“This is to suitably convey Government’s plans, policies, efforts and actions in tackling the various challenges posed. Consequently, as a matter of policy, top government functionaries will embark on public engagements with focus on such issues as security of lives and property, social and infrastructural services – health, water supply, roads, energy, education, the environment, economy, agriculture, industrialization, investment promotion, cost reduction, finance (IGR), human resources - restructuring, verification, salaries, pensions - as well as the welfare of the citizenry including workers,” the statement emphasized.

The statement further stated a circular dated November 9 signed by the SSG, directed  that all Heads of MDAs including Hon. Commissioners & Permanent Secretaries shall formally hold a briefing and interactive session  with their respective members of staff once in a month. All Local Government Chairmen and Heads of Local Government Administration will formally hold a briefing and interactive session with their respective members of staff once a month; and engage the citizenry in their Local Government Areas in a public forum (Town-Hall Meeting) once a quarter. 

“The State Governor, will also formally meet, interact with and engage the public once in a quarter in a Town-Hall platform. This directive is already being complied with,” the state explained. 

Alli noted that these will serve as measures of adequately informing the public about Government’s policies, plans, programmes and activities, as well as directly obtaining dependable feedback in addition to effectively forestalling misinformation, misunderstanding, rumour peddling, mischief and other erroneous impressions that may end up heating the polity. 

He stated, “We are sensitive to the plight of our people. We know and feel the pains of the workers and we are also involved. To reassure them of our commitment to their welfare, there should be constant engagement which is one of the tenets of good governance. We will not relent in constantly engaging our people in order to deliver our electoral promises. 

Alli concluded that it became imperative to reassure the entire citizens that the government is concerned about their welfare and will continue to engage them directly through the vehicle of providing updates, obtaining feedback and providing workable solutions to pressing matters in the state.