By Udeme Hosea

In an effort towards increasing efficiency of subnational government operations and improving subnational government responsive to citizens needs in Akwa Ibom State, the USAID State2State Project have organized a three day workshop to prepare the 2024 Annual Local Government Area Oversight Plans for Service Delivery for members of the priority Local government Areas’ Oversight Committee members.

The workshop which took place at Luton Park Hotel, Uyo, between March 19 – March 21 2024, with participants drawn from Ibesikpo- Asutan, Uyo, Ikono , Onna Local Government Areas’  stakeholders from Basic Education, Primary Health Care and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).

Declaring the workshop open, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry Of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Elder Ini Ikie commended the leadership of USAID State2State in Akwa Ibom State for their technical support towards improved governance, which he said has recorded success in both the state and Local Government levels.

Elder Ikie, applauded participants for their active involvement and contributions in the various activities of State2State, urged them to pay attention to issues that will arise from the workshop.

In his welcome remarks, the State Team Lead (STL), Mr. Borve Paago-Imabel thanked the participants for transforming governance at the local government level,  advised for more commitment to ensure reforms at the Local Government Areas are not taken for granted.

 Mr. Paago-Imabel, further added that, the aim of the workshop is to institutionalize accountable service delivery practices through the service delivery plan, hinted that, the service delivery component of State2State also intends to work efficiently in monitoring and supervising implementation of the Local Government budget, mandated Heads of Local Government Service to ensure budget of the Local Government Areas respond to the needs of the society.

In her review of the 2023 Local Government service delivery oversight, the State2State Local Government Area Manager, Dr Iboro Nelson while facilitating the technical session led participants to review the 2023 local government budget and implementation, which under covered the challenges that  stakeholders faced in 2023.

The three day workshop also  had plenary discussion on issues bothering on local government oversight plans for service delivery, overview of Service Delivery : Principles and institutional Arrangements and a review of the service delivery oversight template.

Stakeholders were also engaged in group work session among Local Government staff members present to prepare the 2024 Local Government Area service Delivery Oversight Plan and group presentation and plenary discussion of the Local Government Area Oversight Plan among others.

At the end of the workshop, stakeholders reviewed the successes and challenges of 2023 implementation and developed the 2024 annual oversight plan  for service delivery in key areas of Primary Healthcare, Basic Education and WASH.