By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
An expert on citizens engagement and a capacity building specialist, Mr. Habila Ayuba Salem has called on civil society organizations (CSOs) in Bauchi State to be advocates of good governance reform and champion citizens concerns and needs to appropriate authorities.
Mr. Salem was speaking to our correspondent, on the side, at the ongoing 3 days advocacy training for 35 Bauchi based CSOs, on effective advocacy for sustainable governance reform and community charter of demands holding at Hazibal Hotel Bauchi.
Mr. Salem, who also doubles as the lead facilitator at the training workshop, which was organised by USAID funded State Accountability, Transparency, and Effectiveness (State2State) Activity said he hope to see increased advocacy for governance reform in Bauchi State from the CSOs, whom he described as representatives of citizens voice.
The citizens engagement and capacity building (CECB) specialist in the Bauchi State office of USAID State2State said that, one of the main objective of the training workshop was to strengthen the capacity of CSOs to design and use community charter of demand instrument as part of an all-inclusive budget process.
According to Salem, other areas the workshop will dwell on was to increase CSOs ability to better lead and manage advocacy engagements and campaigns for responsive, sensitive, inclusive and sustainable governance reform.
He then called on other CSOs and other well meaning stakeholders to come together to advocate for good governance reform aimed at improving living conditions of citizens through effective, efficient and quality service delivery in Bauchi State.
Our correspondent reports that USAID State2State Activity focuses on increase accountability, transparency and effectiveness in governance, with particular emphasis on public procurement, monitoring and evaluation for effective service delivery in three critical areas that include basic education, primary healthcare and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).