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By Lukman Olabiyi
A new initiative aimed at strengthening grassroots governance and boosting citizen participation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has been launched by the Path to Peace Foundation (PPF).
The initiative, titled; “The Abuja Project: Empowering Communities for Grassroots Impact,” targets the six area councils of the FCT. It seeks to enhance transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement at the local government level.
According to a statement by Fareedah Omiyale, Communications Officer, PPF, “the project is a direct response to the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling of July 11, 2024, which reaffirmed the financial and administrative autonomy of local governments in Nigeria.
“While the ruling has been widely celebrated as a key milestone for decentralisation, it has also highlighted persistent challenges in local governance, particularly in rural communities.”
The foundation noted that many residents in remote parts of Abuja remain excluded from decision-making processes, leading to poor service delivery and unresponsive governance:
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“In many rural parts of Abuja, residents are still left out of key decision-making processes. This disconnect has led to poor governance and a failure to meet basic community needs.
“Backed by the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund, the Abuja Project will adopt a multi-pronged strategy to bridge these gaps. Key components of the initiative include a community fellowship programme, town hall meetings, governance-focused research, and advocacy campaigns.
“The project aims to promote participatory governance by empowering citizens especially those from marginalised communities to hold their elected officials accountable.
“With local governments now enjoying greater control over their resources, the foundation believes it is an opportune time to build a more responsive and inclusive governance system.
“The Abuja Project is expected to play a vital role in strengthening democratic practices and fostering development from the grassroots.”
