extention of elective office at the local level

8/18/2019 Extention of Elective Office at the Local Level

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EXTENTION OF ELECTIVE OFFICE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL

A CALL FOR DEMOCRATIC GRASS ROOOT ADVANCEMENT

“Democratic decentralisation can be defined as meaningful authority entrustedto local units of governance that are accessible and accountable to the local

citizenry, who enjoy full political rights and liberty”. While noting that;

Democratic representation is understood to be more than a division of labor

between political elites and citizens; hence the need to understand

representation as an essential part of what maes democracy possible. !imilarly

the ability of a democratic institution to be e"tended in order to accommodate

an increase of elective position to the people, clearly proved its developmentand indicate the deliberate simplifying of the comple" set of relationships that

result in activating the “sovereign people“ by enabling more avenues for people#s

participation and representation at the governmental levels.

$he people of %igeria have gradually come of age in democratic evolution,

participation and processes in election and voting. $he popular concept of

“' asa a tsare” is a clear testimony to these evolutions in democratic

participation. $aing a closer loo at this phenomenal participation in the

democratic processes by the people; in close contrast with the

representational duties of those elected representatives by the people to

represent them “$he landscape of democratic representation is clouded b

the growing comple"ity of issues, which increasingly strains the powers of

representative agents, and thus their capacities to stand for and act on

the interests of those they represent”.$his issues ranges from pro"imity to the people, accessibility to the

representative as at when needed and the time frame it taes to respond to th

need of the people represented. $he (uestion is how will our democracy

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increased citizen#s participation as well as representative relationship with

electorate to attain the ma"imum utilization of democratic dividends)

$he attainment of an all*inclusive representation in our democratic processes

most be broaden to accommodate the growing number of families who

constitute the constituencies at the wards and the poling unit, the vital point in

our elections. $aing note from the universal concept of territory& “$he centra

feature of the standard accounts that constituencies are defined by territory;

individuals are represented insofar as they are inhabitants of a place” beginning

With the formation of the modern state, territorial residence became the

fundamental condition for political representation a condition more inclusive

than status* and corporate*based representation.

+or us to evolve an all*inclusive democracy we must as a people reshape our

democratic institutions to reflect the peculiar nature of our sociocultural

bacgrounds. $he continual adoption of a straight jacet model should be

reviewed by our state legislators for the sole aim of bringing government close

to the people. Who hitherto were far away from the institutions which affect

their lives) $he family unit is the vital point from which constitute ward levelsand the districts. n this case the “Development area -ffices” will be a very

good institution from which this elective position can be e"tended by our state

legislators a focal point were “decentralised state apparatus will be more

e"posed and therefore more responsive to local needs and aspirations”. $his wi

produce systems of governance that are more effective and accountable to loc

citizens. $he basic aim of democratic governance will be attained. $he

Development area -fficer is to be politised by maing it contestable to the

public; this will bring political participation more closely to the people as well as

improve representation of their interest at ward levels. t will give a prompt

response to peoples based issues and developmental needs which will aid and

facilitate the wors of the ocal /overnment. t will also improve

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representation as an intrinsic part of what maes democracy possible as well as

what maes it an avenue for the prompt response to people#s dynamic needs of

life. While the 0democratic deficit# is now widely recognised, the way to respond

is by strengthening the processes of citizen participation 1 that is the ways inwhich ordinary citizens can e"ercise voice through new forms of inclusion,

consultation and2or mobilisation designed to inform and to influence larger

institutions and policies. $he need for changes in institutional design, through a

e"tension of elective offices at the local levels will enable the emergence of

new structures for good democratic government.

$he politicing of the seat of the Development area office will aid in

democratization of the local community and will facilitate the gradual evolution

of political activities from the ward levels by giving room to young active

democrats to demonstrate their competence and creative leadership in

advancing the community. t will “transformed the bare fact of residence into a

sufficient condition for e(ual power*sharing, and laid the basis for the modern

conception of constituency”. -ne way to mae government respond more direct

to popular will as well as the democratic yearnings of the people is through theincrease of the number of elective offices. $his call for the e"tension of

elective office to the ward levels came as a result of& “$he landscape of

democratic representation been clouded by the growing comple"ity of issues,

which increasingly strains the powers of representative agents, and thus their

capacities to stand for and act on the interests of those they represent” we as

a people ought to device a means in order to improve our democratic processes

to meet up with the aspirations of our people whom we are representing, and towhom we are woring towards improving their life as human beings. 3ased on th

fact that responsiveness means that; governments are able to react to the

demands and needs of society at large, and are open to effective interaction

with civil society and interest groups, and are able to tae a variety of views an

interests into consideration in the policy* and law*maing processes. n thisPage 3 of 4


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respect, transparency in the wor of governments is critical to maing them

responsive. 4itizen participation is paramount for the success of democracy. f

the decision maing process e"cludes the masses, one cannot tal of a

democracy. +or meaningful citizen participation in the politics of their countryand, thus, the success of democracy, it is necessary that citizens now their

roles and duties in a democracy. 3esides this, the tas of citizens is to nurture

institutions and practices that are compatible with local conditions and

conducive to democratic aspirations, which the e"tension of elective office

contestable by the local people will bring about meaningful citizens participatio

as well as 5empowered participatory governance5. $hrough the modernisation of

the Development 'rea -ffices “the democratisation and empowerment of localadministrative bodies can enhance participation in decision*maing fora,

particularly among groups that have been traditionally marginalised by local

political processes”. $his call came as a result of the collective desire for

change which our people aspire to see as the actualization of this idea will

enhance 6articipation a component of democracy which refers to the process

whereby people act in political ways to connect themselves to government and

thus become self*governing. Democratic participation can occur when people

participate through established structures adopted and formalised to enhance

participatory democracy with potentialities to improve and advance an all*

inclusive participations of people at the local levels by “strengthening citizen

participation and reconnecting citizens to the state, in areas having to do with

health care, youth, older people, community revitalisation, public service

delivery, child health, child labour, girl child education, youth women

empowerment and the environment” .t is time for all of us to “marshal the

moral forces capable of breaing what must be broen and building what must

be build” in order to advance our democratic processes from the vital point of

society.

Abdullahi G. Lamè

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extention of elective office at the local level

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