By Kelvin Obambon
Good Governance Advocacy International (GGAI) on Wednesday inspired conversations around ‘People Governance Policy’ at a one-day public lecture held at the Channel View Hotel, Calabar.
Vice Chairman of the Cross River State Planning Commission, Dr. Bong Duke, opened the discourse with a compelling keynote lecture on “People Governance Policy: Recalibrating the Compass of Development in Nigeria.”
Duke, in his presentation, called for a paradigm shift in Nigeria’s development approach, emphasizing that governance must prioritize people at its core.
He stated that while infrastructure and economic indices have dominated conversations on governance, the new focus must be on people as co-creators, not passive beneficiaries.
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“People Governance Policy is not merely a fancy synonym for social welfare; it is a fundamental recalibration where the citizen is the ultimate metric of success,” he explained.
Duke criticized the practice of building infrastructure that does not serve the community’s needs, citing examples such as roads to nowhere and underutilized hospitals. “We must shift our mindset from asking ‘What are we building?’ to ‘Who are we building for?’” he challenged.
Highlighting Cross River’s wealth of natural and human resources, he reiterated that “Our people are our assets.” He argued that People Governance Policy should rest on three pillars, which are “People as Purpose, People as Priority and People as Partners.”
“Policies must be designed with direct involvement and insights from the people they aim to serve.
“Success must be measured by tangible impacts on citizen well-being, such as reduced commute times and improved healthcare outcomes, not just infrastructure counts.
“Governance should be collaborative, involving citizens, civil society, and the private sector through participatory decision-making,” he elaborated.
Duke then announced progressive initiatives undertaken by the Prince Bassey Otu-led administration, including a human-centered development dashboard approved by the Governor to track metrics like happiness, safety, and citizen satisfaction.
“No project will receive approval without a mandatory people-based impact assessment,” he affirmed.
Earlier in his welcome address, Sir Leonard Anyogo, Director-General of GGAI, emphasized the urgent need for people-centered governance amid global policy crises.
“Good governance is not rocket science. It’s basically a policy of governance drawn from the people and for the people,” he said.
Anyogo also called for constructive dialogue, stressing that solutions must accompany critiques of governance policies.
The public lecture commemorated the 50th birthday anniversary of Sir Leonard Anyogo, an ardent advocate of good governance in Cross River and Nigeria in general.
The event was attended by dignitaries, including government officials, business magnates, academics, legal luminaries, among others.
Awards were also bestowed on deserving personalities, including the state governor, Prince Bassey Edet Otu.
