The Ondo State House of Assembly has expressed its readiness to partner with PROMAD Infotech Foundation, a non-governmental organization, to implement a public project monitoring initiative. This development was announced by the Speaker of the Assembly, Olamide Oladiti, at the closeout ceremony for the 18 fellows of the Social Accountability Fellowship programme held in Akure. The programme, organized by PROMAD, aims to promote participatory and accountable governance in the state.
The Speaker, represented by the deputy speaker, Olalade Gbegudu, stated that the House is ready to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PROMAD to strengthen collaboration for citizen oversight. This partnership will enable citizens to track, monitor, and report government projects in their communities to the House, promoting transparency and accountability. Discussions are already underway to increase the number of fellows from 18 to 26, ensuring each state constituency is duly represented in the fellowship.
PROMAD’s Communications Associate, Joseph Akujuobi, explained that the organization has engaged the Ondo State House of Assembly and other relevant government agencies to promote participatory and accountable governance in the state. The partnership with the Assembly will create a new paradigm for citizens, especially young people, to co-oversee public projects and provide feedback to lawmakers for speedy interventions. This initiative builds on the successes of PROMAD’s flagship social accountability program, FollowTheProjects, which is developing a real-time project monitoring dashboard.
The partnership between the Ondo State House of Assembly and PROMAD is expected to empower citizens to take an active role in governance. By providing a platform for citizens to track and report government projects, the initiative will promote transparency and accountability, ultimately leading to better governance and development in the state.
The signing of the MoU between the Ondo State House of Assembly and PROMAD is a significant step towards promoting participatory governance and accountability in the state. With the support of the European Union and other development partners, this initiative has the potential to make a lasting impact on the lives of citizens in Ondo State.
