4TH QUARTER 2020 PRESS – RELEASE BY KOGI NGOs NETWORK (KONGONET) MAKES FAR REACHING RECOMMENDATIONS


 

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press;
I would like to welcome you to the quarterly Press briefing by KONGONET on the state of Kogi.
Kogi NGOs Network (KONGONET) is a coalition of Civil Society Networks championing the promotion of participatory democracy, good governance and network coordination in Kogi State through advocacy and policy influencing for the well-being of Kogites.
Background
Kogi State witnessed yet another event filled quarter, while local government council elections in Kogi State was finally conducted after five (5) years with transparency issues such non- use of smart card reader, non- display of voters register at polling units, non- display of election results at voting point, no access to analysis of total vote cast against voided votes and valid votes etc, confirmation of substantive chief judge of the state, appointment of state and federal university Vice chancellors within the quarter. Health, Economic and Social Security issues again top the list of issues most discussed within the quarter in the state. The quarter under review was filled with a mixed grill of activities of state importance; election and inauguration of council chairmen, appointment of university vice chancellors made the headlines within the quarter.

The stay off duty demonstration carried out by local government health workers impacted the health administration negatively within the quarter especially at the community level.

Health Issues:
Civil Society for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (CiSHAN) marked world aids day in collaboration with Kogi State Agency for the Control of Aids (KOSACA), Center for Integrated Health Project (CIHP) alongside other Implementing Partners (IPs) in the state. The epileptic funding of health programs in state still remain a challenge, the celebration of World Aids Day (WAD) was not properly funded by the state and the unusual increase in public health challenges such as TB with more cases of XDR in the state, the state ministry of health by extension the state government should as a matter of urgency come up with strategies to stem the ravaging TB across the state. Civil Society groups within the reporting quarter made frantic efforts, mobilized, sensitized community members and obtained thousands of sputum samples to be analysed by the state managed GeneXpert sites. It is rather unfortunate to report here that most GeneXpert sites in the state are yet to do the needful under the pretence of lacking cartridges and A4 papers. The promised appointment and inauguration of Kogi State Agency for the Control of Aids (KOSACA) board and Director General (DG) by the state government is yet another words without back up as at moment.
Agricultural Intervention Issues:
Budgetary allocation for ministry of Agriculture was not expended in 2020, lots of activities planned for the year as provided in the agricultural budget 2020 was not implemented, the rains are gone, the 2020 budget cycle has ended. All this anomalies in the management of Kogi State Agricultural sector will pose serious challenge for the State in terms of Food Security and well-being of the citizens.
Solidaridad, a Dutch based international NGO, in collaboration with the State Ministry of Agriculture sponsored a five week program on National Initiative for Sustainable Climate Smart Oil Palm for Small Holder Farmers in 3 LGAs of Kogi State, the program held in 54 communities and engaged over 60,000 small holder farmers, the program also involved some CSOs in the state aimed at ensuring Sustainable Climate Smart Agriculture. The government of Kogi State through the ministry of agriculture is here advised to come up with strategies to sustain this initiative in partnership with CSOs intervening in Agricultural sector in the state.
The Committee on Public Financing of Agriculture (PFA) hope that the engagement of stakeholders by the State Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning on 2021 budget cycle will ensure harmonization of the wishes of Kogi State farmer for better attention.
Education Sector:
The effective strategy applied by the State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to ensure the normalization of school calendar for 2020 session is a welcome initiative; we hope this will be sustained going forward. While we appreciate the Hon. Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology for bringing forward the necessary strategies to ensure hitch free resumption of students as recommended in our previous quarter three report, the initiative meant at regularizing school calendar also met with lots of exploitation from private school owners in the state, the mother ministry looked helpless because they lack comprehensive database of private schools operating in the state and necessary policies/regulations, so are unable to bring erring school owners to book. We congratulate the Honourable Commission for the final accent to Kogi State Education Policy by the Executive Governor, this is a big achievement by your administration, and history will be kind to you on this.

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Within the reporting period, the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) lamented the continuous reduction on the quality of basic education in the state, hinged on non- payment of full salaries to basic education teachers across local government areas of the state and non –maintenance of basic school infrastructures. We look forward to amicable ways to be adopted by relevant authorities to solve this puzzle which has the capability of crippling the state basic education sector which serves as the foundation for all forms of education.
Social Welfare Issues:
Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Kogi State within the reporting quarter made a huge progress in civil resolution of domestic violence, women abuse and child custody cases across the state, while still pursuing others cases in court. The group also called for better Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms across our communities, FIDA has also embarked on the training of 40 paralegal officers who will assist to provide legal aids across communities in the state. We call on the Hon. Commissioner of Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to partner with Ministry of Justice towards establishment and operationalization of Sex Offender Register in Kogi State.
The civil society world in Kogi State celebrates the state government for creating budgetary line items to support Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the state.

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We specially recognise the leadership of the following networks and organizations for her efforts carrying out public sensitization, awareness campaign, protest and legal intervention on health programs, rape/child abuse cases and developmental activities across the state within the quarter and the year 2020;

 Association for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Nigeria (AONN) Kogi State branch, led by Mr. Abaniwo Nathaniel, the Executive Director of Rehoboth Community Advancement Initiative (RECAN).

 International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Kogi State branch, led by Mrs Ajuma Lilian Okolo Esq.

 National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Kogi State Office, led by Barr. Nuhu Musa Mohammed.

 Child Protection Network (CPN) Kogi State branch, led by Mr. Enojor Simeon.

 Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA), led by Elder. Titus Alonge

 Civil Society for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (CiSHAN) Kogi State branch, led by Mrs. Chrsity Abayomi –Oluwole

 Coalition for Civic Education (CCE) Kogi State branch, led by Abu-Saeed Muhammed Buhari

 Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development (PIBCID), led by Halima Oyiza Sadiq

 Challenged Parent Initiative (CPI), led by Eunice Abimbola Agbogun

 Renaissance Care and Empowerment Foundation (RECEF), led by Idris Ozovehe Muraina

 Improved Achozi Foundation (IAF), led by Mrs. Hellen Henry

 Initiative for Grassroot Advancement (INGRA), led by Hamza Aliyu

 Development and Female Gender Initiative (DEGENDER), led by Habuh-Rajan Suleiman

 Concerned Women Forum of Nigeria, led by Mrs. Bosede Micah

 Dual Care and HIV Prevention Initiative, led by Mrs. Roseline Alabi

Their tremendous efforts are duly acknowledged within the four quarters of year 2020 and we encourage them to do more in year 2021.

Political Environment:
The conduct of local government elections in the state is a welcomed development and we must commend it for finally concluding this process, even though transparency issues such non- use of smart card readers, non- display of voter register at polling units, non- display of election results at voting point, no access to analysis of total vote cast against voided votes and valid votes etc,.. In as much as we feel that this was long overdue, there is a need for state government to inject some level of transparency in the system subsequently while technically addressing the gaps identified above.
Recommendations:
• That the state government with immediate effect appoint and inaugurate board members for Kogi State Agency for the Control of Aids (KOSACA) and also appoint a Director General (DG) to oversee the agency.
• That the request of local government health workers for 100% salaries be fulfilled to restore normalcy in the community health response scheme of the state.
• That the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) with immediate effect publish detail outcome of the council’s election conducted 12th December, 2020, detailing names of political parties, candidates, total votes received, total vote casted, total voided votes and total valid votes.
• That the state ministry of Agriculture should constitute a committee on Sustainable Climate Smart Agriculture consisting of CSOs in the state
• That the ministry of education should investigate and bring to book those private school owners who exploited parents under the pretence of complying to the ministry’s strategies of regularizing school calendar.
• That the non- payment of full salaries to basic education teachers across local government areas of the state and non –maintenance of basic school infrastructures should be addressed.
• That the budgetary allocation to support Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) operation in Kogi State be released promptly.
• Hon. Commissioner of Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to partner with Ministry of Justice towards establishment and operationalization of Sex Offender Register in Kogi State.
In conclusion:
Kogi NGO Network (KONGONET) will consistently support laudable initiatives of government to ameliorate the suffering of Kogites and ensure the state upholds the tenets of democracy and fair play in her administration of our collective resources. KONGONET shall continue to engage the state government on the adoption and implementation of Open Government Partnership (OGP), even though we are yet to get positive response from the Commissioner for Information and Communications Hon. Kingsley Femi Fanwo in regards to our official letter to that effect. On behalf of Kogi State Civil Society Groups, we appreciate the state government for the inclusion of budget line item for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and finally, we congratulate the elected chairmen, councillors and the newly sworn –in State chief judge.

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God Bless Kogi State.

 

Idris Ozovehe Muraina Mrs. Henry Hellen
Chairman, KONGONET Secretary, KONGONET
The Executive Director of The Executive Director of
Renaissance Care and Empowerment Foundation (RECEF) Improve Achozi Foundation (IAF)
For media inquiries please contact:
Idris Ozovehe Muraina +234 (0) 70 637 97550

Learn more about #KONGONET at www.facebook.com/KONGONETKOGI or on Twitter @KONGONET and kogingonetwork@gmail.com
Long live the people of Kogi State. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Thank you.


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