“O God of creation, direct our noble cause. Guide our leaders right; Help our youth the truth to know.”
2^nd Stanza of Nigeria’s National Anthem

March 29, 2021 | 2^nd Maradun Town Hall Meeting | Aisha Memorial Hall, Mu’allahyidi Arabic Secondary School Maradun

Special Guests: Councilor of Gamaga/Gamagiwa ward, Mubarak Aminu Gama Giwa

Councilor of Kaya ward, Bello Abdulkhadir

Councilor of Dosara/Birnin ward, Shehu Hassan Mancy

Nabilu Lawali, CJ Maradun.

Keeping up with the MyLG project in Zamfara state, the 2^nd Maradun local government town hall meeting was held to look for possible ways towards improving citizens’ involvement in Maradun local governance, particularly policy-making, project tracking, implementation, and evaluation.

The meeting titled “Ensuring Active Citizens participation in Local Government Governance” was attended by representatives of the local government administration, representatives of civil societies, and media groups.

Interactions between the local government officials and citizens wove around the active participation of citizens, civil societies, and persons with disabilities (PWD) in governance, provision of birth, death, and marriage registrars for certification, covering the shortage of water supply in the community, provision of necessary social amenities including feeder roads, better market, and support for education within the community.

After hearing views from different participants on how citizens can actively participate in governance, citizens were encouraged to assist good governance by performing civic duties and keeping to law and order.

There were 58 participants – 43 men & 15 women.

“O God of creation, direct our noble cause. Guide our leaders right; Help our youth the truth to know.”
2^nd Stanza of Nigeria’s National Anthem

February 27, 2021 | 1^st Kaura Namoda Town Hall Meeting | Kaura Namoda Local Government Secretariat Chamber

Special Guests: The Director of Works, Kaura Namoda LGA, Alh. Umar Moriki

Senior District Head, Kaura Namoda LGA, Alh. Ahmad Isa Umar

Shafa’atu Salihu Labbo, CJ Kaura Namoda.

The local government is the cradle of citizens’ participation in governance. The bond formed at this stage of governance between duty bearers and the people creates the foundation for inclusion and active participation in governance at state and federal levels.

To this end, the 1^st Kaura Namoda MyLG town hall meeting, themed “Enhancing Citizens Participation in Local Governance”, was held to create awareness on the importance of citizens’ active engagement in issues affecting their LGA. In attendance were representatives of the local government administration, representatives of political, commercial, and civic organizations, and media personnel.

Speakers encouraged the local government to give priority to the views and opinions of citizens and ensure active participation of civil society organizations and women organizations. Further calls were made for capacity building of youths in Kaura Namoda, autonomy and accountability of the LG finances, protection of lives and properties, and adoption of regular town hall meetings.

In conclusion, representatives of the local government agreed to sensitize citizens on enhanced participation in governance, provide support and collaboration for ongoing projects within the community, and ensure financial autonomy. Citizens were asked to participate more in the local and state governments’ selection and administration processes.

There were 70 participants – 40 men & 30 women.

“O God of creation, direct our noble cause. Guide our leaders right; Help our youth the truth to know.”
2^nd Stanza of Nigeria’s National Anthem

March 17, 2021 | 1^st Birnin Magaji Town Hall Meeting |

Special Guests: Hon. Aminu ladan, Birnin Magaji Councilor.

Mukhtar Ahmad, Social Director, Birnin Magaji/Kiyawa LGA

 Aliyu DIkko, Uban Kasa.

 Sa’adu Galadima, Uban Kasab II.

Sani Shuaibu, Chief of Staff.

Sheikh Iliya Liman.

Citizens’ participation in the governance of a nation begins with their engagement of duty bearers at the local level. If the voice of the masses isn’t heard at local governments, it stands little chance of being carried to the federal government.

The 1st Birnin Magaji town hall meeting themed “The Role of Citizens in Reviving Local Government Functions and Governance” was graced by dignified members of the locale. The meeting urged citizens to shift their mindset from focusing only on what the government can do for them to thinking in terms of collaborative efforts from both the government and the people.

Discussions centered around topics like decentralization of power, provision of better governance and inclusiveness, government accountability, provision of job opportunities within Birnin Magaji LG, and active citizen participation in government decisions.

Through these discussions, resolutions were reached to make governance within Birnin Magaji more democratic. Duty bearers were tasked with leading the people with honesty and trust. Citizens were further encouraged to show their participation in government by writing letters to those in offices, running for offices, donating money to community projects, participating in elections and committee meetings.

A keynote from this meeting was the Director of Agriculture’s response to a question about the lack of agricultural development in the community. According to the director, insecurity in the land prevents the government from investing in agricultural growth in the community.

There were 97 participants – 65 men & 32 women.

“O God of creation, direct our noble cause. Guide our leaders right; Help our youth the truth to know.”
2^nd Stanza of Nigeria’s National Anthem

March 14, 2021 | 1^st Maru LG Town Hall Meeting | Maru Local Government Council Chamber

Special Guests: Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu Mafara, Director of Socials., Talata Mafara LG

Lukman Lawali Danbuzu, Coun

Zulkifilu Ahmad, Citizen Journalist Talata Mafara

The 1st #MyLG Talata Marafa local government town hall meeting themed, ”Ensuring Active Citizens participation in Local Governance”, was graced by esteemed members of the community including traditional rulers, representatives of the Talata Marafa local government, representatives of commercial and political organizations, civil servants, and many other stakeholders in the local Government tier.

The meeting aimed at educating participants about the importance of active citizens’ participation in governance, the role of civil and commercial organizations as well as the local government in community development.

At the end of the meeting, participants agreed to ensure that LGA budget is always a true representation of the people’s development needs and that all sections of the society must be well represented by the local government. Further resolutions included full transparency in the handling of local government funds in terms of the declaration and allocations of grants received and calls for the continuity of the #MyLG project in the smaller communities around Talata Marafa local government.

There were 97 participants – 70 men & 27 women.

“O God of creation, direct our noble cause. Guide our leaders right; Help our youth the truth to know.”
2^nd Stanza of Nigeria’s National Anthem

March 14, 2021 | 1^st Maru LG Town Hall Meeting | Maru Local Government Council Chamber

Special Guests: Alh. Muhammad lawal Dauran, Secretary, Maru LG

Nasiru Abdullahi Maru, Department of Political Science, UDUS Sokoto

Bashir Umar Aero, Personal Assistant to Sole Administrator, Maru LG

Alh. Sani Suleiman, Director of Social, Maru LG

Salisu Ahmad Umar, Citizens Journalist, Maru LGA

The 1st #MyLG Maru LG town hall meeting was attended by Maru local government officials, councilors, youths and women organizations, social media organizations, and many others. The meeting themed, ”Ensuring Active Citizens participation in Local Government Governance”, was designed to look for possible ways forward in active citizens’ participation in local governance, particularly in policymaking, budgeting, and project tracking to meet public needs.

The interactive session touched many areas of governance such as how well citizens can engage with duty bearers and the provision of social amenities by the local government with a view of improvising social wellbeing and economic development.

Resolutions reached included the active participation of community leaders, organizations, and people with disabilities (PWD) in local governance. The local government was tasked to provide death, birth, and marriage registrars, water, street lights, good roads, central markets, better schools, and other social services, in addition to maintenance of order.

Emphasis was made on making efforts to harness local mineral resources within the community for revenue generation and providing skill acquisition training for the people.

From the discussions, resolutions were reached to make representatives of local organizations and groups participate in Anka LG budget deliberations. The local government was also enjoined to ensure the active participation of women and people with disabilities (PWDs) in the decision-making process.

There were 36 participants – 30 men & 6 women.

“O God of creation, direct our noble cause. Guide our leaders right; Help our youth the truth to know.”
2^nd Stanza of Nigeria’s National Anthem

March 14, 2021 | 1^st Maru LG Town Hall Meeting | Maru Local Government Council Chamber

Special Guests: Secretary, Shinkafi Local Government, Abba Atiku

Director of Social, Umar Sani

Director of Personnel Management, Ilyasu Garba Zurmi

Junaidu Bala Abubakar, Lecturer, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria

Mu’awuyya Elhamza, Lecturer, Nigerian College of Education (NCE), Sokoto

The role of the local government is to bring governance closer to the people and serve communities in intimate ways the federal and state governments cannot. Sadly, this is not accurately reflected in local governance today. Duty bearers at the local level have become so detached from citizens that they lose interest in the actions of local authorities.

Themed ”Ensuring Active Citizens participation in Local Government Governance”, the 1st #MyLG Shinkafi LG town hall meeting aimed at discussing mechanisms to improve citizen’s involvement in local governance within Shinkafi. The berth of proposed engagement ranged from community engagement, policymaking, project tracking, implementation, and evaluation. The meeting was graced by representatives of the Shinkafi local government, councilors, youths and women organizations, social media organizations, and civil and commercial organizations.

Discussions and papers delivered focused on community engagement – the role of citizens and leaders/religious leaders in governance enlightenment of the community – and community development – the roles of the local government in creating social infrastructure and amenities.

Resolutions reached included capacity building for our youth to ensure self-reliance, direct financial autonomy of the LG administration, active participation of civil society organizations and women organizations in governance, and giving a listening ear to public views and opinions.

There were 55 participants – 45 men & 10 women.

March 14, 2021 | 1^st Anka LG Town Hall Meeting | Government Girls Day Secondary School E-Library Conference Hall

Special Guests: His Royal Highness, Dr Attahir Muhd Ahmad, Emir of Anka.

His Royal Highness, Alhaji Attahir Muhd, Royal Father of the Emir of Anka.

Hon. Rabiu Muhd damo, Secretary of the Anka Local Government Council.

Nasir Garba Anka, Professor of Bioenergy, Biomass & Biofuel, Federal  University Gusau.

Dr. Sha’ayau Shehu Mafara, Rector, Abdu Gusau Polytechnic Talata-Mafara.

A nation where the activities of governance are of interest to only a tiny part of the populace is dangerously ‘dancing’ on the edge of a cliff. While few people are needed in offices to represent the masses, it is the participation of the masses in the governance of the state that keeps the abuse of power in check.

Such participation begins at the closest level of government to the people – the local government. If citizens can hold duty bearers at this level accountable to deliver on their responsibilities, they can develop ‘the voice’ to demand better from government at the state and federal levels.

Graced by distinguished personalities from the local government area, the meeting themed, “Enhancing Citizens’ Participation in Local Government” educated citizens on the constitutional roles of local government officials and that of citizens. It provided a platform for people to ask questions on matters that affect them, strengthening the capacity of citizens to advance government accountability at the local government level.  

From the discussions, resolutions were reached to make representatives of local organizations and groups participate in Anka LG budget deliberations. The local government was also enjoined  to ensure active participation of women and people with disabilities (PWDs) in the decision making process.

Further resolutions reached included a request for the construction of a Town Hall for Anka LGA, establishment of a steering committee tasked with keeping the local government abreast on matters of public interest, and the continuity of the myLG Project in Anka. Citizens were also encouraged to engage their local government officials and demand accountability for the growth of the community.

There were 90 participants – 57 men & 33 women.