Amaechi: Bringing Transparency Into GovernanceAmaechi: Bringing Transparency Into GovernanceGovernor Amaechi of Rivers State is set to make transparency and accountability a hallmark of his administration. In doing so, he has reminded the citizens to embrace the new dispensation or face the wrath. Here DAVID AMUSA writes on the government’s initiatives and the merits.
Before the advent of the Amaechi-led administration, corruption was the order of the day. Merit was sacrificed on the altar of solidarity. Political thuggery occupied an important place in the politics of the state. Value such as profit motive was introduced into the educational system. There was break down of law and order, as people no longer respected constituted authority. Cultism and militancy took root within the state. The thorny problem of upland/riverine dichotomy persisted unabated. Jobs, housing and pipe borne water were absent. The use of state apparatus by few individuals to the exclusion of others was unprecedented. Teachers were owed salaries. Dilapidated school buildings dotted every nook and cranny of the state. Flood, poor sanitation, indiscriminate building and construction, street trading and traffic congestion essentially characterized the state.
A class of corrupt Government officials that derive their power and influence by tilting the state funds, sadly, hijacked the state. Corruption became the bane of the state socio-economic development. The accounting system was nothing to write home about. We all know that what usually affects an organization or Government negatively is lack of transparency and accountability. But when Governor Amaechi came on board, his administration right from day one promised to run a financially transparent Government.
Based on this promise, the Government took giant leap in accountability when it signed the due process bill. This is to ensure probity and transparency. Leadership of many organizations or governments that have skeleton in their cupboard will never do this. It has deepened the viability and participation of the people to the activities of the government as they have confidence in Amaechi's ability to manage their resources.
Frivolous spending, easy and ostentatious life which has become the hall mark of our people's life style should be discouraged. If we and our governments at the various levels instill the spirit of frugality then can we utilize effectively the windfalls of oil.
That is why everybody should appreciate Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and see from the same prism of vision and empathy where he lamented about the mounting pressure on him to share the state's funds. It is not a statement of sympathy but a clarion call that our people should stop this attitude of sharing state funds at the expense of development projects.
It would be recalled that during the quarterly interactive forum with NGOs, CSOs, CBOs, and FBOs at Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, the governor said, “a lot of the people that are out of government are putting pressure on the system and they want to come back, not because they have anything to offer the state, but because they want to be part of the sharing of state funds”.
The State Governor explained that the position of the present government not to give money to the public has provoked a lot of, pressures, and sentiments to the extent that those who were benefiting from such gestures before now, were looking for ways to run the administration down.
The Governor said government's responsibility at the moment was to prudently and efficiently manage the resources available to the state in such a way that it would be beneficial to all, since according to him, the resources belonged to the people.
|
|
|
|
|
|
