Protests: Tinubu’s aides begin nationwide public engagement

President Bola Tinubu’s aides on Public Engagement have been given a fresh mandate to initiate citizens’ engagement across the six geopolitical zones.

These came days after Tinubu’s nationwide broadcast, during which he called for an end to the #EndBadGovernance protests and expressed his openness to dialogue.

The Head of Media, Presidential Community Engagement Office, Seun Ajayi, revealed this in a statement on Thursday.

The six Senior Special Assistants to the President on Community Engagement are Moremi Ojudu (South-West), Chioma Nweze (South-East), Gift Johnbull (South-South), Abiodun Essiet (North-Central), Abdullahi Yakasai (North-West) and Abdulhamid Abba (North-East).

Ajayi said the new move became necessary due to a wave of discussions on the need for the administration to engage with the members of the public through its appointees on policies, projects, and programmes.

Therefore, she announced that the aides “have been tasked with returning to their communities in the geo-political zones to engage directly with citizens.

“Their mission is to ensure that the President’s policies and programmes are well understood and that public feedback is actively incorporated into the government’s agenda.”

The statement continued, “The whole idea is to strengthen the relationship between the government and its citizens and the newly established Presidential Community Engagement Office, a crucial bridge between the Federal Government and local communities in Nigeria, is leading this initiative.

“As part of this effort, the office has introduced the Citizens’ Assembly, a nationwide programme designed to ensure that the voices of the people are heard and considered in national decision-making processes.

“This initiative aims to create a more inclusive and responsive government by facilitating meaningful engagements with the public.”

In his address last Sunday, August 4, 2024, the President urged organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protests to “suspend any further protest and create room for dialogue, which I have always acceded to at the slightest opportunity.”

He said Nigeria requires all hands on deck, regardless of age, party, tribe, religion, or other divides, to work together to reshape its destiny.

On July 29, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central), Abiodun Esseit, unveiled the Citizens’ Assembly at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Essiet decried the gaping disconnect with the Local Government Councils in Nigeria.

She cited a March 2024 survey conducted across the North Central region, including Abuja, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau states lamenting a stark disconnect.

This gap, she argued, necessitated the creation of the CA to “enhance community development and cohesion.

She explained, “Community engagement plays a crucial role in building trust between the Federal Government and its citizens. It establishes a direct connection, ensuring that the voices of the people are heard and considered in the corridors of power.

“To gain a clearer insight into the challenges facing our grassroots, we conducted a survey in March 2024 involving 166 respondents from the North Central region, including Abuja, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau states.

“The findings revealed a significant disconnect between the Federal Government and local communities. For instance, 48.2 per cent of participants perceive a lack of engagement from the Federal Government. 78.3 per cent feel unrepresented in the government’s policies and decision-making processes.”

She further revealed that 62.1 per cent consider community engagement organisations effective, while 68.7 per cent believe the government does not consult with local communities before implementing projects.

To address this gap, Essiet noted that President Tinubu appointed six SSAs on Community Engagement across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones in September 2023.

The appointments, she said, are part of the administration’s agenda to improve governance through strategic citizen engagement.

Therefore, the Citizens’ Assembly initiative, launched by her office, will work to bridge this disconnect, with plans to replicate this across the North Central states following its FCT launch.

She explained, “Nearly a thousand volunteers from the region applied to participate in this grassroots engagement effort.

“Selected individuals will represent at least one ward across the six North Central states and the FCT, serving as agents of change within their communities.”

Essiet emphasised the crucial role of community engagement in building trust between the government and citizens.

She also called on other government appointees and elected officials to replicate this model in their respective jurisdictions to foster national prosperity.