Government policies are essential ingredients for democracy and good governance. While keeping track of government activities and highlighting loopholes, supporting good policies and decision of the government are great path to posterity and development.
Diversity of ideology and knowledge identify collective participatory as a key element to good governance and as well make people have different opinions about government policies. While some people criticize the policies, others support, while a few appreciate the good ones and further highlight the drawbacks to improve governance.
It’s on this basis, the decision of the state government to engage citizens on the preparation of 2021 budget remains a very good auspice to a better tomorrow.
One good thing that keep democracy alive is holding different perspectives about public policies and the much reason I see it as a sign of immaturity and callowness when people lose their emotion in defending or supporting government programs.
Meanwhile, participation is important as a means of improving performance and accountability of bureaucracies and improving social justice. Hence, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq needs to build up on this by ensuring access to public information is backed with legal instruments.
If I’m not mistaken, this is the first of its kind in the State and need to be commended. Government is encouraged to make the 2021 budget a true reflection of this purpose. They should ensure that people’s aspirations are reflected in the appropriate bill and sustained in the implementation of the budget.
The world might be going through a hard period due to pandemic that has plunged many countries into debt; businesses into bankruptcy, and how the world economy is crumbling, some sectors are still counting their profits in multiple and exploring COVID-19 challenges to wide their strength.
It is on this, I want urge the administration of AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to think outside of the box and organize the ‘think tank’ of this government on how to unlock the latent potentials of the state, Kwara North in particular. The state needs to come up with simplest method of building platform for a sustainable economic and social development.
Lastly, without losing focus and by sustaining open door policy to ideas and public engagement, the government would be able to build leadership trust which is panacea to growth and peace.
May Kwara succeed!
Comr. Bolakale Saliu writes from Lagos.