Osun State steering committee on Regulatory Framework for CSOs in collaboration with Global Rights Nigeria has called for the establishment of a dedicated Civil Society Organizations, CSO Liaison office within the State Government.
The Team Lead of the Committee, Dr. Busayo Obisakin made the call while addressing Newsmen in Osogbo.
Dr. Obisakin noted that the call became imperative to foster greater accountability, transparency and legitimacy between the CSO sectors.
She noted that the Liaison office would also strengthen partnership between Civil Society Organizations and the Government for sustainable development.
Dr Obisakin explains “The recent capacity building programme organized by Global Rights highlighted the critical importance of regulatory frameworks for CSOs and NGOs to ensure robust accountability mechanism.”
“In Osun State alone four intensive training sessions were conducted by the Global Rights reaching approximately One hundred and fifty NGOs directly, additionally through a step down training model, various NGO networks transfered these learning to thier members bringing the total number of CSOs benefiting from the capacity building in Osun State to One hundred and Eighty, the trainings underscored a clear need for improved interfaces between the Civil Society and Government, a well regulated transparent and accountable CSO sector is vital for effective Governance and Citizen participation.
“The creation of CSO Liaison office headed by dedicated Liasion officer would serve as that crucial intermediary, the office would streamline communication, facilitate collaboration and ensure that the invaluable contributions of the CSOs are recognized and integrated into state development efforts.” She added
Dr. Obisakin said the committee required a space whereby the CSOs would be able to make thier voice known to the Government and thier positions would be reckoned with.
Responding on behalf of the State Government, Senior Special Adviser to the Governor of Osun State on Civil Society Organizations, Mr. Ebenezer Olusegun noted that for the first time in the history of the various administrations in the State, no government has given attention to CSOs than the present administration led by Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Mr. Ebenezer states ” Government has already provided even more than a Liaison officer or a Liaison office, in a state where we have two Senior special
assistance on civil society.
Mr. Olusegun stressed the need for CSOs to register appropriately with the State Ministry of Women Affairs to enable Government identify with the authorized CSOs in the State.
Other members of the Osun State steering committee team includes; Mr. Michael Ebofin, Mrs Isola Elizabeth, Ochulor Eze, Oluwaseun Oluwadamilare, Mr. Isaac Adeyemo and Gbemi Falowo.
