The Presidency on Wednesday outlined new conditions for the quarterly Stakeholder and Citizens Engagement Meetings, saying the Federal Government is commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and citizen participation in governance.

The guidelines, issued through the Central Delivery Coordination Unit under the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, mandate stricter requirements for ministries to ensure these meetings serve as genuine platforms for public engagement.

According to the CDCU, the engagement meetings were introduced as a deliverable for every ministry in response to President Bola Tinubu?s directive that all ministers regularly communicate government initiatives, beneficial programmes, and policies to the public.

The meetings, it added, are expected to enhance the understanding of government policies while preventing misinterpretation.

As part of the newly established conditions, each ministry must hold at least one stakeholder or citizen engagement meeting every quarter, with the minister personally leading the session alongside the Permanent Secretary and other top officials.

The CDCU emphasised that the engagement must be a high-level interaction where government officials not only inform the public but also receive direct feedback from stakeholders, which would be taken into consideration for policy adjustments.

To ensure broad participation, the CDCU says the meetings are expected to involve civil society organisations, professional groups, the media, and ordinary citizens.

It stressed that the mass media?both print and electronic, including major online platforms?must be invited to cover these engagements to maximise public awareness.

The Ministry of Information and National Orientation is also required to play a key role in coordinating media participation.

It also clarified that not all ministerial public appearances qualify as stakeholder engagements.

Such encounters include, ?Ministers granting scheduled interviews (TV, radio or at events) to explain policies without stakeholders? involvement.

?Ministers attending events and speaking about ministry activities without stakeholders? participation,? the statement read.

Similarly, recorded familiarisation visits by investors will not be considered a substitute for these meetings.

Instead, the interactions must be structured, inclusive, and participatory, allowing for real-time citizen engagement, the unit stated.

The feedback process, it said, remains a crucial component of these sessions.

Therefore, ?ministers and ministry officials must be prepared to respond to concerns raised by stakeholders both during and after the meetings,? it read.

The Presidency said to ensure transparency, it requires that ministries submit evidence of compliance, including copies of invitation letters sent to stakeholders, an attendance list, a copy of the minister?s presentation, and a detailed report of the discussions held.

In addition, ministries must document specific feedback received and provide proof of how it has been implemented in government decision-making.

With these new guidelines, the Presidency said it is reinforcing its commitment to citizen-centric governance, ensuring that government policies are not only communicated effectively but are also shaped by public input. (The PUNCH)

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