23 September 2009
Lagos — The European Union has set aside the sum of 20 million euros to provide assistance to registered Nigerian Non State Actors (NSAs), which has now blossomed to over 46,000, according to records at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
The grant is aimed at fostering pro-poor policy, enhanced service delivery and transparent governance; with the project undertaken in particular at state and local government level, to increase NSAs' effectiveness and impact.
Team Leader of Increasing Non-State Actors Implementation and Development Expertise (INSIDE) project of the EU, Mr. Walter Bresseleers, said at a meeting with the Special Adviser to the President on Civil Society Matters, Mr. Chineme Ume-Ezeoke, that the project has a budget of 20 million euros.
He said, "INSIDE will, over a period of 3 years, provide assistance to Nigerian Non State Actors. The implementation of the INSIDE Programme gives the opportunity to strengthen the dialogue between the state institutions and the NSAs in Nigeria."
"This dialogue will concern national policies but it will also represent an opportunity to promote a balanced and sustainable local development. In this context, NSAs can play an important role through the promotion of a particular culture among all actors involved in the development process, both at national and local level."
Other components of the programme, he added, include the promotion of political and social dialogue at all levels of public life; the promotion of shared values among all actors involved in local development;
There are also the transparency, accountability, participation, effectiveness, equity; the management of national and local antagonism through conflict prevention and resolution; and the promotion of a participatory and representative democracy.
Bresseleers also sought the collaboration of the Nigerian government to ensure success of the programme.
In his remarks, Ume-Ezeoke stressed that the Non State Actors and the State were mutually dependent on each other, and serve as major planks on which good governance rests.
He added, "The role of development partners in fostering this participatory approach is crucial. Based on this premise, my office has always strived to cement the existing harmonious relationship between the government and the mainstream civil society groups by involving them in our activities.and also honour their invitations for participation."
He disclosed that at a recent visit to the Corporate Affairs Commission the number of registered civil society organisations had grown to over 46, 000.
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