If the primary purpose of government is to promote the welfare of the citizenry, the representatives of the people must promote democratic participation and enhance citizen’s rights through good governance by promoting citizens oversight, input in project development, public policies, social and economic engagement of the people.
By Ese Isaac Erinmwingbovo
The need to enhance participation of the citizenry in a representative government has been the pre-occupation of social and political scientists.
That good governance and development of democratic institutions in a civil society are by- products of robust democratic participation of the citizens through issues of grass root politics that promote their welfare.
Democratic participation has been defined as those legal activities by private citizens aimed at influencing decisions of public representatives and officials in a representative government.
These activities include voting, campaigning, lobbying, contacting, group action and protest – carried out by individuals and or groups aimed at influencing the representatives in government, rather than active and direct participation in the process of governance itself.
Lasting social changes depend upon the ability of people to help shape the policies that affect their lives; our goal therefore should be to enhance democratic participation of citizens of Edo state in all levels of civil and political life.
For democracy is more than regular or periodic elections, it also entails taking part in the process of formulation, passage and implementation of public policies and programs.
The need for citizen engagement with the state is a necessity for “good governance”. Good governance requires a broad reform strategies and a particular set of initiatives to strengthen the institutions of civil society with the objective of making government more accountable, more open, transparent and more democratic.
It also entails opening space within government to enhance new relationships (citizen oversight), thereby improving democratic participation, legitimacy, competence, and respect for citizens’ rights.
Citizen oversight, organized public hearing, citizen boards, etc., promote accountability of government and enhance openness.
The citizens of Edo state have an inherent right of participation in the process of decision-making in social, economic, cultural and political life on issues that affect them.
The concept of equating good governance with “dividend of democracy” does not enhance citizens’ rights, in fact it treats them as “excluded” from the democratic process.
If the primary purpose of government is to promote the welfare of the citizenry, the representatives of the people must promote democratic participation and enhance citizen’s rights through good governance by promoting citizens oversight, input in project development, public policies, social and economic engagement of the people.
The Edo associations, groups and individuals should develop mechanisms and sets of initiatives to have “constructive engagement” with various levels of government of their state, with the sole purpose of influencing decisions that affect the social, economic and political lives of the citizens.
It is by so doing that, we will be contributing to the development of effective democratic institutions and promote good governance that is accountable to the citizens of the state with respect for citizen’s rights and responsibilities.
Ese Erimwinbovo, a public affairs analyst writes from the United States of America
