Police schools public on how to build bridges between citizens and govt
The 2016 Lagos Social Media Week (SMW) continues and government agencies continue to make appearances geared towards promoting greater citizen engagement on governance issues.
L-R: , Dr Joe Abah, the director general of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, (BPSR) and Abayomi Shogunle, the head, Complaint Response Unit (CRU), Nigeria Police
At a panel themed ‘Let’s Talk Governance! Citizens, Government and Technology’, on Thursday, February 25, hosted by EiE and Strengthening Advocacy and Civic Engagement (SACE) panelists including Abayomi Shogunle, the head, Complaint Response Unit (CRU), Nigeria Police and Dr Joe Abah, the director general of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, (BPSR) discussed how to build bridges between the Executive and Legislature and wider civil society.
READ ALSO: Saraki to attend Social Media Week
The panel was moderated by media personality Ebuka Obi-Uchendu. Senator Bala Na’Allah, Senator Ben Bruce and the Governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El’Rufai who were billed to speak at the session were absent.
Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE) in partnership with USAID Strengthening Advocacy and Civic Engagement (SACE) Project reveals that the organization aims at promoting greater citizen engagement on governance issues.
L-R: , Dr Joe Abah, Abayomi Shogunle and emedia personality, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu
CSP Abayomi Shogunle, the head, Complaint Response Unit (CRU), Nigeria Police, spoke on the need to make the police more accountable and address complaints from the people which gave birth to the Nigeria Police Complaint response unit.
He revealed that the CRU is the first of its kind in sub-saharan Africa, adding that the aim of the unit is to give Nigerians a police force, they can trust.
The head CRU said that social media platforms were being greatly deployed in executing their work as the unit is being manned 24/7. Some of the social media platforms being used includes Facebook, Twitter, BBM and Whatsapp.
A representative of Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE) giving the vote of thanks
Another panelist, Dr Joe Abah, the director general of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, (BPSR) who spoke at the event said that social media platforms would make government agencies accountable as well as make the jobs of public servants a lot easier.
Abah said the Bureau was set up principally to make government function better for the people.
The director general said: “If you keep hiding information it will make the public suspicious”.
Abah further said he declared his assets, salaries and allowance as a public servant on Twitter.
Representatives of Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE) in a group photograph with the panelists
On if the Executive arm of government should regulate the social media bill, he said: “The present government benefit from social media in riding into power, so there is no intention to start that.
READ ALSO: First day of social media week 2016 (photos)
The highest law of the land is the constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and nobody can take that away.”
Shogunle implored Nigerians to continue to engage with the police as the Police Force under the IGP Solomon Arase is ready to take suggestions.
The session came to a close after the Q&A segment with the audience.
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