A. STRUCTURE OF IIDM
There are six LGAs constitutionally recognised in Ijesaland namely; Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Obokun, and Oriade LGAs.
Two levels of monitoring are proposed namely;
- LGA Based IIDM
- Central IIDM
The LGA Based IIDM shall be appointed from Ijesa indigenes who are RESIDENT within the local government.
A total number of seven members are proposed drawn from representative wards in the LGA. For diversity we hope to have gender equilibrium and also provide for Youth representation within this group of seven people.
The Central IIDM shall be drawn from the six LGAs in Ijesaland. One from each LGA while the Chairman who is the seventh member comes from any of the six LGAs in addition to initial candidate.
The advantage the two levels monitoring has is that it will provide the opportunity to compare the monitoring reports of the two bodies.
The LGA Based IIDM shall be the first to conduct its monitoring exercise and then followed by that of the Central IIDM.
The two reports shall be independently released by the two bodies at the same time so as not to allow the report of one influence the other.
B.PROCEDURE FOR APPOINTING IIDM MEMBERS.
There are two options available for consideration.
- DIRECT NOMINATION
In the case of Direct Nomination, ICDA shall request Ijesa Community to suggest and recommend individuals from the six LGAs.
The responsive list can then be scrutinized along pre-defined criteria to select and appoint both for LGA Based and Central IIDMs.
However, the disadvantage of Direct Nomination is that it will shut out other credible and selfless individuals who may not have anyone to nominate nor recommend them. This also comes with a tag of discrimination since it would be failing in the inclusiveness test.
- PARTICIPATORY APPLICATION
Under this arrangement, combination of media channels shall be employed to sensitise all communities in the six LGAs in Ijesaland to the criteria required for volunteers to apply.
Applications shall now be scrutinised and shortlisted along pre-defined criteria.
Shortlisted candidates shall thereafter be published in the communities for people who may have objections to the candidates to indicate. Such objection, where any, shall be investigated and where there are merits in the objection, such candidates shall be replaced from the pool.
The advantage of this procedure is that it is participatory and all-inclusive. Secondly, candidates applying would be those who are genuinely interested to serve and not those nominated against their wish and readiness. Thirdly, the approach would provide a bigger pool from where replacement could be drawn whenever the need arises.
The obvious disadvantage apart from the cost is that it takes a longer time to process and accomplish. But with early commencement of the procedure the time challenge could be mitigated.
C. OPERATIONAL METHODOLOGY OF IIDM.
The sustainable credibility of IIDM and it’s members are premised on the integrity of the Independent Development Monitors. Such integrity must be earned by ALL its members without exception.
The proposed operational methodology is such that will insulate IIDM members from physical interactions with the functionaries of the LGAs as much as possible. It is feared that where IIDM members are not prevented from regular physical interactions with the LGAs functionaries, the IIDM members could become vulnerable to the temptations that could emanate from such regular physical interactions between the two parties.
To minimise the IIDM physical interactions with LGAs, the use of hoisting a IIDM Website is proposed.
At the final articulation of all monitoring indices, a user friendly website shall be designed and hosted.
All the six LGAs shall on monthly basis upload their respective performance reports on this IIDM website.
The LGA Based IIDM and Central IIDM shall therefore use the reports posted on the website to carry out their monitoring and evaluation exercises without necessarily going to the LGAs offices to collect same reports.
Furthermore, observations and reports of the LGA Based and Central IIDMs, that shall be released at the same time shall also be posted directly to the website without passing through any other party.
It is viewed that such an approach as illustrated above will assist the IIDM to maintain its integrity and remain independent according to its name.
D. FINANCING IIDM
Primarily participation in IIDM is designed to be a volunteering selfless service to Ijesa Community hence, no payment of salaries and allowances are envisaged.
Similarly, the proposed adoption of the use of a website for communicating reports is expected to minimize expenditure on stationery and the likes.
This leaves us with the cost of monitoring visits to the project development sites such as funding petrol for vehicles of IIDM members and Internet services for the website. Other incidental expenses such as meals during visits and communication credit cards are proposed to be considered.
To raise funds to meet the above expenses, ICDA shall propose the establishment of PROMOTERS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE IN LGAs fund where members of Ijesa Community shall be encouraged to donate their widow’s mite to sustain the operation.
In addition, ICDA proposes to charge a levy on the people visiting the website in order to supplement the revenue from Promoters of Good Governance.
We envisage that in no distant future, the revenue from the user levy on the website visitors should be sufficient to maintain the operation of IIDM.
As previously mentioned, the IIDM is a concept that is still at a proposal stage. So, inputs, suggestions, and recommendations are welcome to strengthen the proposal.
In the coming week, the summary of collated inputs, suggestions, and recommendations from all the seventeen Ijesa platforms, in which this proposal has been published, shall be shared in order to develop an ACTION PLAN and take advantage of time to institutionalise IIDM ahead of LGAs election in Osun State.
Ijesaland Development Paradigm Must Change With The Restoration Of LGAs Financial Autonomy
All hands must be on deck!
Obokun a gbe a, O!
Asiwaju Olayinka Fasuyi,
The Asiwaju Of Ijesaland,
Chairman,
ICDA,
Oke Baba Okuta Villa, Ilesa.
12th July, 2024.
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