NIDEREF

In pursuance of the organizations vision of grassroots democracy and sustainable development in the Niger Delta of Nigeria, NIDEREF will conduct a one-day workshop in collaboration with the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) and National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE). The workshop will have its theme as “Fiscal Autonomy and Alternative Revenue Sourcing” which is meant to reposition the local councils for effective service delivery to the public. This is prompted by the discovery that state governors interfere in council financial affairs through unhealthy interventions that leave the councils with money only enough to settle personnel salary. NIDEREF also believes that alternative revenue sourcing is necessary to prepare the councils for tangible socio-economic development. This is important since outright dependence on federal government allocations has encouraged all forms of malfeasance that harm development in the local areas.

A 9 point communiqué issued at the end of a roundtable on environmental governance which has its theme as “Establishment of an Environmental Protection Zone: Andoni, Khana, Gokana, Ogu/Bolo”, held in EL-Queen Hotel, Khana on the 12thof March 2013, with representatives of the abovementioned local government areas and some civil society organizations in attendance.
After the group discussions, the following recommendations were made:

Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) and NIDEREF’s 2010 Conference

The problem of development has occupied the attention of scholars, activists, politicians, development workers, and international organization for many years with an increased tempo in the last decade. Even though there are different perspectives to development, there is a general consensus that development will lead to good change manifested in increased capacity of people to have control over material assets, intellectual resources and ideology; and obtain physical necessities of life (food, clothing & shelter), employment, equality, participation in government, political and economic independence, adequate education, gender equality, sustainable development and peace. This is why some people have argued that the purpose of development is to improve people's lives by expanding their choices, freedom and dignity.

Councils Rated High in Corruption –ICPC
From Henry Chukwurah, Port Harcourt
Thursday, April 08, 2010