International development partners should support the efforts of the Inter-Party Advisory Council to improve governance by empowering political parties through capacity building, its national chairman, Yabagi pleaded on Thursday.
According to him, IPAC was planning to monitor the progress of the 36 governor-elect toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals through the peer review mechanism.
Sani stated these during a meeting with Nigeria’s development partners including the Chinese Embassy, the International Republican Institute (United States), and the National Planning Commission.
He said the PR mechanism would help to ensure that the governors were held accountable for their actions.
“We’re also trying to see how we can make that tier of government become more people-oriented, by way of delivering on their mandate to improve the welfare and security of the people,” Sani said.
He added that IPAC was committed to implementing strategies for holding the legislature accountable and ensuring that they deliver on their mandate to make laws for the country.
The Director of the Political Section of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Mr Du Sheng, who spoke on behalf of the development partners, described the democratic process in Nigeria as a success and pledged the Embassy’s support for the peer review mechanism.
“We are very impressed with the democratic process in Nigeria. It is a success because I have witnessed a very continuous, consecutive 24 years of democratic dispensation.
“I think that’s good not only for the nation but for Africa, and the world because we know Nigeria is a very influential and big country in Africa.
“We are committed to supporting IPAC’s efforts towards improving governance and empowering political parties,” Du Sheng said.
The meeting ended with a commitment from all stakeholders to work together towards achieving the SDGs and improving governance in Nigeria.
