Implementation of African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) to promote governance, says Gombe deputy gov
By Jack Tasha
Gombe State Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, has observed that the successful implementation of African Peer Review Mechanism would promote and reinforce high standards of governance which are fundamental for the socioeconomic development of the continent.
Jatau stated this while addressing participants at the stakeholders’ validation exercise of Country Self- Assessment Reports on African Peer Review Mechanism for the North East, urged the stakeholders to participate actively and contribute meaningfully in the exercise in preparation for a successful second review of Nigeria so as to achieve the mutually agreed goals of New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
He said the main objective of this validation exercise was to confirm the reports based on questionnaires that were earlier distributed, completed and returned to the secretariat, pointing out that the report was basically on the four thematic areas of the APRM namely, democracy and political governance, economic governance and management, corporate governance and socioeconomic development.
He said, “The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is a mutually agreed instrument voluntarily accepted by Member States of the African Union as a self- monitoring arrangement.
“The mandate of the APRM is to promote conformity with regards to political, economic, and corporate Governance, codes and standards among African Countries in line with the socioeconomic objectives of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).”
Jatau explained that the Inuwa Yahaya led administration is convinced that for a state like Gombe to grow, they need to explore both human and natural resources, noting that the government is currently working on the Industrial Park along Gombe-Dadinkowa, Biu road, so as to encourage investors and industrialists to establish industries with the hope of engaging our teeming youths.
He commended the National Steering Working Committee on the Peer Review of Nigeria for organizing the exercise and for the the choice of Gombe State to host the event in respect of the Northeast Geo-political Zone, calling on all and sundry to contribute their own part to development which is the desire of all nations.
The Deputy Governor said, Gombe as a state and indeed other states of the Northeast have realised that they cannot develop alone, hence their opening to development partners so as to collaborate and ensure development and not growth.
He welcomed the panelist, Dr. Louis and other members and emphasized that based on political will existing among the six states in the Northeast, where the Governors recently met and assured that the Peer review will revalidate the earlier questionnaires sent.
The Deputy Governor maintained that the states in the Northeast are ready to learn, to be corrected, and even to be criticized if, it takes us to the land of development, as he declared open the meeting in the name of peace, progress, development, and above all, to the glory of God.
He welcomed people from Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo, saying that they are much at home in Gombe, since they have towns called Gombe in the two countries.
Speaking earlier, Member, National Governing Council, African Union Development Agency/New Partnership for Africa’s Development, Dr. Louis Mandama explained that the workshop was for stakeholders to participate actively in the process of validation exercise in preparation for a successful second peer review of Nigeria in order to achieve the agreed goals of NEPAD, with a view to forwarding the final document to President Muhammadu Buhari for the benefit of good governance.
He therefore urged the participants to actively contribute towards the success of the review, and appreciated the support received from Gombe, since they have towns called Gombe in the two countries.
Jack Tasha, Senior Special Assistant (SSA), Media and Publicity, (Deputy Governor’s Office).
