Niger Delta Human Development Report - UNDP Nigeria - United ...

tertiary schools, and for different forms
of adult education.
GOAL 3: Enhanced Electoral Integrity
Effective arrangements to ensure electoral
integrity are critical. The low level of respect
for political authorities in the Niger
Delta region is primarily due to their lack
of popular mandates. Many have ascended
to their offices through various electoral
abuses and sometimes outright avoidance
of elections. There can be no sustainable
peace wherever elections are massively
rigged and unpopular candidates imposed;
in most societies, and indeed in the Niger
Delta, this is a recipe for lawlessness and
chaos.
To ensure the acceptance of electoral outcomes
and to restore respect for authorities:
• elections at all levels, within and among
parties, should be transparently conducted;
• pre-election campaigns should be free
and devoid of force;
• elected officials should be held accountable
between elections by the
political parties that sponsored them;
and
• security agencies on electoral duties
should be neutral and faithful in reporting
the conduct of elections.
GOAL 4: Institutional Capacity Development
The capacity of public institutions at all
levels is very limited, but more so at the
local government level. This is not difficult
to explain. During the several years
of military rule, training was not at a premium,
so public institutions are not familiar
with most new techniques and skills of
public management. Since the international
community’s re-engagement with Nigeria
following the return to democratic rule,
redress of the decay in public management
capacity has been concentrated mainly at
the federal level. Although to a lesser extent
at the state level, capacity development
at the state and local governments
has been neglected. This has to be tackled
NIGER DELTA HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT
3
if the recommendations for more effective
decentralization of responsibilities
and financial resources to lower levels of
government are to have their desired effect.
The following strategies are recommended
to enhance the capacity of state and local
government officials:
• capacity development in conflict
resolution;
• capacity development in project cycle
management;
• capacity enhancement in financial
management and auditing; and
• capacity enhancement in participatory
development management.
GOAL 5: Synergy Among the Federal
Government, State and Local Governments,
and Oil Companies
The multiple roles of the many institutions
operating in the Niger Delta—including
the Federal Government and its
agencies (e.g., the NDDC), state and local
governments, the oil companies and
international aid organizations—present
a challenge. There must be synergy in
these relationships, especially between the
NDDC and the state and local governments
in implementing a development
agenda. It is important to work out partnership
arrangements to coordinate activities,
as discussed under agenda six.
AN IMPROVED AND DIVERSI-
FIED ECONOMY AS THE LE-
VER OF PROGRESS
With its stock of natural and human resources,
the Niger Delta region offers
immense opportunities for developing a
diversified economy founded on small,
medium and large industries. Such an
economy could draw on the agricultural
and fisheries resources of the region, the
oil and gas businesses, forestry and other
natural capital stocks. Agro-based and allied
businesses, other industries and tourism
could generate sustainable livelihoods
in communities, and reduce unemployment
and conflict.
Capacity building at the
state and local
governments has to be
tackled for effective
decentr alization
ofresponsibilities and
financial resources to
lower levels of
government to have their
desired effect.
Citizens’ appreciation of
their duties to the state
is very limited.
Concerted promotion of
civic responsibilities is
vital.
There can be no
sustainable peace
wherever elections are
massively rigged and
unpopular candidates
imposed.
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