BUILDING BETTER COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AS A TOOL FOR EFFECTIVE GRASSROOT DEVELOPMENT FACILITATED BY AA PEACEWORKS, A NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION 1Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

PRESENTED BY IKPE GABRIEL O. DIRECTOR: (PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION) MINISTRY OF BUDGET AND ECONOMIC PLANNING MONDAY, 24 TH SEPTEMBER Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

OUTLINES OF THE TOPICS BETTER COLLABORATION GOVERNMENT THE TWO TIERS OF GOVERNMENT IN QUESTION – STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT A TOOL EFFECTIVE GRASSROOT DEVELOPMENT 3Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

COLLABORATION Working together on something. It could be Programme, Project or any other thing. In this context, we are looking at collaboration with respect to grassroots development. 4Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

GOVERNMENT The organization, machinery, or agency through which a political unit exercises authority and performs functions and which is usually classified according to the distribution of power within it. Government can also be defined as a body of persons or officials that constitutes and exercise governing authority over a political unit. 5Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

We are considering, here, two levels of Government – State and Local Government, collaborating for effective grassroots development. We should, however, bear in mind that there is Federal Government who is also a stakeholder in grassroot development. 6Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

Local Government: This level is closest to the people. It is the one at the grassroots. It is expected to have direct contact with the people and the communities in the area; and by this closeness, Local Governments should know their real problems (needs). 7Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

State Government This tier of Government is closer to the people and the communities than Federal Government. State Governments are also expected to maintain contact with the people, but through the Local Government to ascertain the felt needs of the people. This it should do in concert with the Local Governments. The Local Government Areas make up the States. 8Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

Federal Government This is also the people’s Government. It is close to the people; and could, as well, maintain close contact with the people through the States and Local Governments. The Primary goal of the three tiers of government is to bring development to the people. 9Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

What is Development?  A positive change in the socio-economic life of the people.  A participatory process of social change leading to increase in material wellbeing, self- respect, independence and freedom from want, ignorance, poverty and restricted or forced choice. 10Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

What is Development Development covers and impacts on all aspects of human life; economic, social, political, environmental and emerging issues. Development does not just occurs by itself. It is desired, planned, vigorously pursued and achieved. 11Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

Development Planning A continuous, conscious and deliberate effort aimed at influencing and directing socio-economic events in order to achieve a higher standard of living. Having a vision and a dream for the future and basing the dream on past experience and present evidence (data) through situation assessment and analysis. 12Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

Development Planning Identifying problems (and needs) through situation analysis, setting of goals, objectives and targets, designing strategies (Programmes and Projects) to achieve the targets determining resource potentials, optimally allocating the resources to competing needs, monitoring the execution of the projects and evaluating their impact on the people. 13Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

Effective Grassroots Development  A development that penetrates the nooks and crannies of the country.  A development that transforms the people’s live on a sustainable basis. 14Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

A tool An instrument A means, method or strategy; Thus, collaboration can be a tool for the different levels of Government to achieve development at the grassroots 15Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

How can better collaboration between the tiers of Government, particularly States and local Governments be built? 16Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

Building a better collaboration pre-supposes that there is existing collaboration that needs to be strengthened. Let us assume that it exists. After all, agencies of the State Government exercise supervisory and oversight functions over the LGAs. I therefore recommend the following strategies for strengthening the collaboration. 17Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

Unity of Purpose:  The three tiers of Government have the same goal (development) and the same (target) beneficiaries (Nigerian people). Therefore, improving their living condition should be their (the Governments’) common purpose. 18Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

Unity of Purpose All their programmes and projects should be aligned towards that objective. Any policy, programme or project that fails to impact positively on the people is a misplaced priority and wasted effort/resource. 19Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

Local Governments’ Development Plans and Annual Budgets: Their Plans and Budgets should indicate Programmes/Projects that LGA would want the State and Federal Government to collaborate with it. These will form inputs into the plans and budgets of the States and Federal Governments. There should be areas spelt out for other development partners and private sector participation. He who wants support must show commitment 20Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

Joint Planning Committee Meeting  This is a meeting of officers in-charge of development Planning at State and Local Government levels. It will enable them review their development process, results achieved, challenges and how to improve on their levels of achievement. This plat form exist between Federal and States Governments. It is called NCDP/JPB. 21Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

Peer Review Mechanism:  This will enable the Local Government councils compare notes and learn from one another. It will also help them to identify best practices, strength and weakness, which will spur them to improved performance. Planners from state should participate at the LGA Peer Review Mechanism since they have useful experience to share with the LGAs. The 36 States of the Federation are already into the Peer Review Mechanism. 22Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

Co-funding of some projects by the State and Local Government:  This will reduce the financial burden on either of them and increase the sense of collaboration. 23Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

Joint Monitoring and Evaluation of the co-funded Projects: Stakeholders in the project should be represented in the team that will monitor and evaluate the joint venture projects. 24Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

Conclusion The people are really in need. They yearn for programmes and projects that will improve their pathetic living condition. Poverty, unemployment, food insecurity, high morbidity and mortality rates, low literacy rate, poor access to health care and clean water, decayed infrastructure and environmental pollution are among the developmental challenges facing them. 25Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

Conclusion No one tier of Government can solve all the problems. It calls for collaboration among them. They (the different levels of Government) should also fashion a way of attracting the private sector into the development process. 26Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

Conclusion This, they can achieve by creating enabling environment for private sector participation. The financial and legal systems should be strong enough. General security of lives and property should also be of great concern to all (Government and the people). 27Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

Conclusion: While Governments are implored to work together and do more for the people, the people themselves are equally urged to cooperate with Government and other development partners that come with programmes/ projects that will help to alleviate their condition. Development is everybody’s business. 28Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012

THE END THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS 29Academic Associates PeaceWorks ©2012