Abiodun Essiet, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, North-Central, says President Bola Tinubu’s administration is strengthening participatory governance through community engagement for sustainable development.

Ms Essiet communicated this during town hall meetings organised by her office in Abaji and Kwali area Councils, Abuja, on Tuesday.

She said the meetings were organised in partnership with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the MacArthur Foundation, and AGURA Policy.

Ms Essiet said the meetings were expected to generate feedback on issues affecting the people’s daily lives, ranging from infrastructure gaps to social services, and, where possible, provide immediate interventions.

According to her, the move is to transform residents from spectators to active participants in governance processes.

“The goal of the community engagement is to harvest grassroots sustainable solutions that will reflect collective and shared goals for all Nigerians.

“We are also using the opportunity to educate our people on flooding and how to protect themselves,” Ms Essiet.

She added that implementing citizen and stakeholder engagements communicated government activities and was a feedback mechanism.

“This grassroots approach has allowed the Tinubu administration to bring governance closer to the people.

“The voice of the people is not just heard but is translated into sustainable policies, laws and other people-oriented programmes and projects.

“We are also looking at infrastructure problems; we are also looking at humanitarian services that need the federal government’s intervention,” she said.

The presidential aide also said the administration was generating feedback on infrastructural problems and humanitarian services that need the federal government’s intervention.

“Our goal is not just to hear but to act, and we are committed to ensuring that the feedback gathered will inform government policy as sustainable development solutions,” she said.

According to her, bridging the gap between the government and the citizens through strategic engagement with citizens would improve governance and promote national cohesion.

Also speaking, the director of planning research and statistics at NOA, Nuru Kobi, commended Mr Tinubu’s administration for initiating a comprehensive set of policies, programmes and projects aimed at addressing various challenges and fostering development across Nigeria.

Adamu Yunusa, the Onah of Abaji and chairman, FCT Council of Chiefs, also thanked Mr Tinubu for bringing the government closer to the people.

(NAN)