By Gilbert Azeem Tiroog, GNA
Nabdam (U/E), Feb. 25, GNA – Mr Francis Yenwona Tobig, the Nabdam District Chief Executive (DCE), has urged residents of the area to actively demand accountability in the execution of development projects to ensure quality service delivery and accelerated growth.
He said the development of the district should be paramount to every individual’s interest and urged residents to move beyond partisan lines to demand accountability.
This would propel development in the district and provide meaningful jobs for the youth in the area, he said.
Mr Tobig made the call at a social auditing engagement held at the District Assembly and organised by the Nabdam District Office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) as part of efforts to promote transparency, citizen participation, and responsible governance.
The DCE emphasised that citizen involvement in monitoring public projects was critical to preventing shoddy work and protecting public resources.
Recounting a personal experience, Mr Tobig said there was an instance when the Assembly Member of the Zanlerigu-Dagliga Electoral Area, alerted him of an alleged poor workmanship being carried out by a contractor on a school project.
“I quickly rushed there with a team and realised it was true. Some of the blocks were poorly moulded with less cement, and by just carrying them with bare hands, they would break,” he stated.
The DCE said the Assembly immediately called the contractor to order and ensured that the right standards were adhered to.
Mr Tobig noted that such interventions were only possible when citizens and local representatives remained vigilant and reported irregularities promptly.
He assured residents that his administration welcomed constructive criticism and lawful demands for accountability, stressing that no one would be victimised for seeking transparency in the interest of development.
“I don’t have a problem if you are demanding accountability, provided you are doing it in the right way and without malice. After all, we are fighting for the progress of the district and must ensure that the right thing is done,” he said.
He further encouraged residents not to be afraid of reporting wrongdoing, assuring them that truth and fairness would prevail.
“Do not be afraid of being victimised when you report wrongdoing, because the truth will set you free,” he emphasised.
The DCE reiterated his commitment to open governance and called for continuous collaboration between citizens, assembly members, and district authorities to ensure that projects executed in the district met the required standards and delivered value for money.
The engagement formed part of civic engagement activities under the Participation, Accountability and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) programme aimed at strengthening public accountability and citizen participation in local governance.
The programme, commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), is co-financed by the European Union and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and implemented by GIZ and the Ministry of Finance.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/ Christabel Addo