Edo State Govt Encourages Residents To '' Talk To Their Governor''

“This initiative is one of its kinds. A governor sending out people to know the problems that exist in our areas for them to be able to proffer solutions is laudable.......
I am happy that work has started. We made mention of Giwa-Amu around that airport in Oredo Local Government Area and it's been done already. Kudos to Edo State government for involving us in the budget process and bringing governance closer to the people.” these are the words of Kingsley Agho, a university graduate based in Edo State. Since his childhood days one of his dreams has been to enjoy the dividends of good governance such as provision of basic social amenities and inclusive governance that carries the citizens along in the budget process. But over the years Agho dreams became a mirage due to failed infrastructure and poor governance. He grew to see bread disappear from the breakfast table and food became rationed. He was born under a repressive military regime where workers were not paid their salaries and the universities embarked on incessant strike.

Everyday, he wakes up he perceives the pungent smell of helplessness and deprivation. Today, his story has taken a positive twist with the implementation of the Talk to Governor Godwin Obaseki (Talk GGO), an initiative of the Edo State Government. This initiative is being implemented in accordance with recommendations of stakeholders at the recently concluded Edo State Economic Summit Alaghodaro 2017. The initiative was inaugurated November, 13 and the state government has begun its implementation of the outcomes of the summit through this initiative.
This initiative tagged “Talk to Governor Godwin Obaseki” or “Talk to GGO” in short form, is the first step in enhancing the infrastructure databank of the state. Residents, citizens and stakeholders are being given the opportunity to help the government prioritize for next year by providing information on the gaps that currently exist in Edo state.

More than 450 young people have been recruited, trained and equipped to visit every street across the state to collect information and report on such issues as the condition of the roads, drainage problems, the state of health and educational facilities, as well as areas that require critical government intervention.
According to the states Commissioner for information Rt. Honourable Paul Ohombamu “we are planning big for residents and stakeholders of the state and to enable us plan effectively, we need true information on problems that exist in each community within the state. This information will help the government formulate and create lasting solutions to these problems within the next few budget cycles.”
He noted that the exercise commenced in Oredo LGA late in November and will be replicated in every single Local Government area and community across the state.
“This way, we are able to assess where the priorities are and involve the citizens in our decision making processes”, he concluded.
He also explained that the data would be made available to stakeholders to use in their planning operations in the near future.