Lagos flags off office of civic engagement

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state on Wednesday, February 17 said the newly created office of civic engagement is open to all Lagosians and will on behalf of the government, listen to the people and ensure their concerns are adequately addressed. Mr Ambode who was represented by his deputy, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule at the flag off ceremony of the OCE, stated that “the essence of representative democracy is continual engagement of all stakeholders in the society.”

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“In creating this office, we have opened our government to all for engagement. We want a participatory government, we want our government to listen to all your concerns, so we can bring people-oriented solutions,” the governor said. Also speaking during his welcome address, special adviser to the governor on civic engagement, Mr Kehinde Joseph, stated that the office was created by governor Ambode in his resolve towards sustenance of peace, ethical rebirth and working together of Lagosians without prejudice to the indigent. Mr Joseph stated that contrary to popular opinion, the OCE wasn’t created only to render financial assistance to the needy, but also interact and engage diverse interest groups, arms of government and other stakeholders in the project to sustain Lagos as a mega city. “It is not only financial Assistance that we handle on behalf of the Government, our core responsibility spread across almost 20 Civic and Political tasks and duties likes it is our duty to initiate formulate and evaluate policies relating to citizens and stakeholders cohesion and engagement,” Mr. Kehinde Joseph told the audience.

He continued: “It is our duty to promote issues and activities relating to volunteerism and community engagements. We also appraise political and legislative issues for Governor’s attention. We deal with matters relating to political engagements and inclusion. We stand as a go-between the State Government and Political Parties at the National, State and Local Government Levels. It is our responsibility to mobilize support for State Government Bills at Public Hearing of the State House of Assembly.” The over 10,000 guests who attended the flag off which held at the Blueroof, LTV8 Ikeja includes members of the Lagos state house of assembly and several cabinet members of Mr Ambode’s government.