Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has inuagurated an 18-man steering committee for harmonisation of civil society regulatory framework in the state.
Performing the inauguration on Wednesday in Government House, Enugu, Ugwuanyi said that the inauguration was “in response to the outcome of the EU-ACT supported National Consultative Forum for key MDAs and CSO Networks on Harmonizing CSO Regulatory Frameworks/ Registration Procedures at the Sub+ National level, held on 22nd June,2022”.
According to him, “The European Union Agent for Citizenship Driven Transformation(EU ACT) , has stressed on the need to provide a guiding operating platform that will harmonize the procedures between the Covil Society Organizations and Government agencies on the state “.
“The success at improving the regulatory environment and framework will definitely boost foreign investment in form of grants which are interest-free.
He said that the responsibility of the committee is to coordinate and drive the process of harmonising the Civil Society Organisation Regulatory Frameworks in Enugu State.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Simon Ortuanya, the governor prayed that the Committee members will bring to fire their wealth of knowledge on the assignment ” while leaving indelible marks on the sands of time”.
Ugwuanyi observed that the Civil Society Organizations”continue to play a big role in shaping national policies in Nigeria. They drive and coordinate the process of developing a model self regulatory framework.
“This model includes a code of conduct, operational standards, information services, peer accreditation amongst others.,”he said.
Members of the committee were drawn from the public sector and civil society organizations, which included permanent secretaries of ministry of gender affairs and social development, Office of the SSG, Office of the Attorney -General/ ministry of Justice, Clerk of the State of Assembly, Ministry of youths and sports, education, to rural development, finance and economic development and ministry of Budget and national planning. Nine CSOs were also members of the committee .
Responding on behalf of other members, Co- Chairman and representative of the Enugu Network of Civil Society Organisations , Comrade Emmanuel Acha, said that ” in the past and present times, civil society organizations has demonstrated strong contribution to wards the development of the Nigerian society and achievements of public good in the state and country”.
He thanked Ugwuanyi for inaugurating the committee, noting that Enugu state is the only state in the country that has officially constituted a joint state steering committee as coordinating mechanism for the harmonization agenda.
Acha expressed optimism that the CSO’s partnership with the state government would yield the desired fruits.
