Governors should embrace Ward Development Initiative -By Sadiq Tanko Jasper

Several years after independence infrastructural development continue to be the bane of Nigeria. The access to basic amenities like pipe borne water, rural electrification and primary health care facilities are still being grappled within Nigeria. For effective overall development of Nigeria’s micro-development of rural areas. The dream can only come to fruition through concepts of Ward Development Initiative. The concepts is highly effective in the sense that every months resources are allocated directly to all the Wards in the State. The Wards decides for itself what projects should be taken, these projects are now executed for the common good of numbers of the Wards. The initiative serves as a catalyst for the micro-economic and social development of rural areas, as much neglected parts of the society.

The Ward Development Initiatives will be geared towards the sustainability of less endowned areas with attendant advantages of reducing maternal mortality, providing access to social aminities and outlaying communities, reducing water borne diseases and making life more meaningful for those not privileged to live in areas where these aminities are easily accessible. The initiative will improve the quality of inhabited of our communities, at the of the day it goes to the point that bridges, farming equipments, class rooms, educational materials can go a long way in making a difference in the lives of the people.

By implication, Wards are divisions within the local governments system. Each Ward is made up of several polling booths and these polling booths actually have their own peculiar leaders and specific areas of interest. Sometimes the people of a particular Ward might want to have regular supply of waterand electricity, in another Ward the people might be interested in security issues i.e the protection of lives and properties in some others, the provision of jobs for the young as well social infrastructures might be the almost interest. These diversities actually tell of people’s diverse interest, to which they often seek for government’s direct intention.

• Most past development proposals and programs are also far from the people because
• A lot if political mischief and marginalization are in place.
• There is absence of spirits of accountability and transparency
• Developments were often mistakenly centered only on state and local governments headquarters.
• The people’s peculiar interest especially at the Ward level are never taken into consideration.
• Most thought and actions were centered either state or local government level. In which requests and demands would be too many to address.
• Most leaders are grossly insensitive to the actual needs of the people and are rather obsessed with the quest for self satisfaction at the expense of societal growth.

Nigeria is made up of 36 states including FCT and 774 local governments whose overall development should be of Major interest to the Ward levels. The Wards are closest to the people and they indicate clearly the essence of democracy as a grass roots form of politics. The development of Wards is expected to indicate:

• People are bond to feel the impact and significant of the initiative.
• That people can be employed to service development in there own communities.
• The spirit of accountability and transparency can be easily engendered at work.

What happened at the Ward level can always tell the events of sincerity or lack of it of the government in power at the Ward level, culverts and drainages can be easily constructed, young people could be employed to do some jobs, boreholes could be built to supply water, monitoring is easier and leaders are easily dictated if they are truly committed to spreading the devidence of
democracy.

The Ward levels will witness drastic changes because every month, Wards are allocated with money to carry out crucial projects. Quite alots will be achieved in places such as construction of overhead tanks for masses, clinics, new class rooms, renovation of buildings and electricity will be extended to places.

The initiative will through the local government departments line with its ministry, it will give the community to appoint members of projects committee which will include retired Civil servants, females and a head representative, it will prevent political party members influence. The community determine the nature, growth and physical completion of the projects. Saperate bank accounts opening for the Ward projects initiatives different from the local government council will give accountability.

The local government committee will work with councillors of each Wards and also deliberate of official report on expenditure and bill of quantities. The design, blueprint, hosting and placements of Wards projects will all be on internet, which is for record and enhancement of accountability as the projects can be seen directly and accessible.

Wards development initiative occupies a unique place in the strategies of development. Democracy is not only felt at all levels, people are made to be participatory part of the process. It is more certain that development would get to the door-step of every citizen of Nigeria, aside the fact true democracy would have been achieved as everyone would be a direct participants in government. And both the leaders and citizens are certainly the people and embrace the reality of this challenge.