PIC LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE CITIZENS’ PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL DEVELOPMENT
The Public Independent Conciliator for the North-West Region has launched a Campaign to Promote Citizens’ Participation in Local Development. The campaign was flagged opened on 04 July 2024 at a ceremony in Bamenda.
The event which held in the auditorium of the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator in Bamenda was broadcast live by CRTV Bamenda. It was attended among others by pressmen who asked questions at different intervals to know the objective of the campaign, the methodology and desired outcomes of the campaign.
In his keynote address, the Public Independent Conciliator, TAMFU Simon FAI said the activity aligns with the Public Independent Conciliator’s mission of defending and protecting rights and freedoms of citizens in their relationship with the Region and the councils of the Region, as well as promote and protect rights and freedoms along with the PIC’s mission to design and implement measures to prevent and combat any direct or indirect discrimination against users of regional or council services.
Citizens’ participation also constitutes an important part of the PIC’s annual report on the state of relations between citizens and regional and council services
Following the observation that the population is not fully aware that participation of citizens in the affairs of the region and councils is a matter of duty and of right, the campaign to promote citizens’ participation in regional and council affairs is organized to boost citizens’ engagement in issues concerning their development and welfare.
The purpose of the campaign is to inform and educate citizens on their rights and duty to participate and to raise their urge to engage in council activities as a matter of right and duty.
“This is the only way decentralization and local development can be made meaningful,” said TAMFU Simon FAI, adding that, “The objective is to reach out to at least 80% of the active population (the decision-making age group) of the North West Region with messages informing and educating them on their rights to participate in council affairs and decision-making processes concerning their welfare and development.”
The campaign will run for three months.
