The Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has identified public feedback and citizens’ participation as a panacea for good, responsive, accountable and people-centred governance.
Governor Otu, represented by his deputy, Dr Peter Odey, remarked while declaring open a public advocacy summit with the theme, “The Role of the People in the People’s Government: Institutionalising the Feedback Mechanism” in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, south-south Nigeria.
According to the governor, the People’s First administration recognises public feedback as a vital tool for shaping government policies and programmes, reiterating that governance was most effective when the aspirations and concerns of the people were reflected.
Otu stated, “democracy extends beyond elections. Continuous engagement between government and citizens strengthens trust, accountability and inclusive development. Our People’s First mantra is a deliberate commitment to placing the welfare of Cross River citizens at the centre of governance.”
The governor noted that his administration was taking deliberate measures to review policies in response to citizens’ observations and has encouraged all political officers to hold regular town halls as a way of sustainable connection with the yearnings and aspirations of the people.
Otu maintained that the government introduced several initiatives influenced by citizens’ demands, including the “establishment of the Cross River State Public Complainant Office, road traffic management reforms, tax harmonisation, reduction of traffic fines and the introduction of free bus services during festive periods.”
He urged citizens to engage the government through lawful and constructive channels with the assurance that the administration would continue to strengthen citizens’ participation, deepen public trust and institutionalise effective feedback mechanisms.
Constructive dialogue
In a keynote, a retired Colonel Pam Ogar called for stronger collaboration between government and citizens to advance participatory governance.
Ogar stressed the need for citizens and government to embrace constructive dialogue and responsible criticism, noting, “public engagement should be solution-driven and focused on the collective interest of Cross River State.”
Also speaking, the organiser of the summit, who is the Special Adviser to the Governor on Content Development and Archiving, Beatrice Akpala, described the event as a platform to deepen participation and strengthen collaboration between government and the people.
She added that integrating feedback in governance would ensure citizens remained active partners and contributors to policy development.
