Select Page

Rescue Watch : Grassroots Engagement Strategy Presentation By Gov. Ishaku

by | Aug 16, 2016 | Governor's Rescue Remarks

Related Posts

His Excellency,  the Executive Governor of  Taraba State,  Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku, FNIA, made this presentation on the Flag-off of the “Rescue Watch”.

Broad Outline of the Rescue Agenda

  • Peace and Security.
  • Provision of Infrastructural Facilities.
  • Robust Revenue-Generating Machinery.
  • Rural Transformation Through the Provision of Rural Infrastructure and Robust Engagement with the Rural Populace for Sustained Development and Economic Empowerment.
  • Clear-cut Policies Aimed at Good Service Delivery and Promotion of Feedback  Mechanisms.

Strategies for Rural Transformation and Community Engagement

  • Direct Engagement with our Rural Communities for the purpose of building ownership mentality amongst the people at the grassroots level.
  • Development of feedback Mechanisms to ensure that all government projects, programmes and facilities (e.g hospitals, schools,etc) are subjected to all forms of quality tests through sustained reviews by standing government machinery that will have direct links with the populace and the Governor.
  • Involvement of the Local Communities in the continued monitoring of government projects, programmes and facilities as well as revenue-generating activities.

The Rescue Watch Teams

Revenue Monitoring Teams

  • A Revenue Monitoring Team has been put in place for each Local Government Area.
  • Each Team is made up of a Special Adviser and two Senior Special Assistants/Special Assistants.
  • The Revenue Monitoring  Teams shall independently monitor the operations of all State Revenue-Generating Agencies operating in the Local Government  Areas.
  •  The Revenue Monitoring Team shall be coordinated by the Special Adviser(Revenue Matters).
  • Special Adviser (Revenue Matters) shall submit monthly reports to the Chief of Staff who shall in turn, prepare briefs for the Governor.
  • The Revenue Monitoring Teams shall be required to visit their LGAs and spend a week every month.

 The Grassroots Matters Teams

    • A Grassroots matters team has been put in place for each Local Government Area.
    • The Grassroots Matters Team shall interface with citizens of Taraba State at the grassroots level.
    • Each Team is made up of a Special Adviser and two Senior Special Assistants/Special Assistants.
    • The Grassroots Matters Team shall be coordinated by the Special Adviser (Manifesto Implementation) who shall collate and consolidate their monthly Reports for submission to the Chief of Staff.
    • The Chief of Staff shall produce and submit monthly briefs on the activities of the Team to the Governor.
    • The Grassroots Matters Team shall carry out sustained periodic visits to state –owned facilities (schools, hospitals, ongoing projects, etc) for the purpose of good service delivery/implementation by government officials and contractors.
    • The Team shall monitor implementation and impacts of government programmes at the grassroots (e.g Youth Empowerment, Farm inputs distribution, etc) to ensure they reach citizens at the grassroots, and are making the required impact.
    • Educate citizens at the grassroots on government programmes and obtain feedback on same.
  • On monthly basis, a Town Hall Meeting  shall be organized in one electoral ward by each Local Government Grassroots  Matters Team during which five representatives per polling unit shall meet and interact with the team on government policies, programmes and service delivery.
  • Through the  Ward Contact Persons, the Grassroots Matters Team shall keep in close touch with happenings at the grassroots levels that require government attention.

The Ward Contact Persons   

  • The Ward Contact Persons  shall act as  informants  of the Revenue Monitoring Teams regarding revenue-generating activities within their jurisdiction. For example, they shall have authority to visit produce checkpoints to monitor the activities of revenue collectors. Likewise, they shall have authority to stop trucks carrying timber and ask for evidence of payment of government revenue.
  • The Ward Contact Persons shall be issued with ID Cards and Uniforms from the Government House to enable them operate at security checkpoints where they will have the right to stop vehicles carrying products or items that are subject to payment of revenues to government (grains, timber,etc).
  • Government shall collaborate with Security Agencies to ensure that Ward Contact Persons operate without hindrances.
  • The Ward Contact Persons shall be required to be in close touch with their Local Government Grassroots and Revenue Monitoring Teams on daily basis to keep abreast of developments in their areas of jurisdiction.

Monthly Meeting

  • There shall be a monthly meeting of special Advisers, Senior Special Assistant and Special Assistants to be chaired by the Governor.
  • The Monthly meetings and Reports of the Grassroots and Revenue Monitoring Teams shall be thoroughly reviewed at the monthly meeting. Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants in these teams shall be assessed on the basis of the content and quality of their reports.

Conclusion

In conclusion, all Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants who will be involved in activities of the Rescue Watch, must view their roles as a necessary sacrifice that we must all make to see to the upliftment of the standard of living of our people. On my part, I wish to assure you of my total commitment to this model of governance that I have developed.

THANK YOU.