FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
27th July, 2026
CEHRAWS COMMENDS GOVERNOR ALEX OTTI’S CITIZENS’ ENGAGEMENT CENTRE, DESCRIBES IT AS A MAJOR STEP TOWARDS PARTICIPATORY AND PEOPLE-CENTRED GOVERNANCE
The Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS) warmly commends the Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, for the introduction of the Citizens’ Engagement Centre, a technology-driven platform designed to provide Abians with direct access to government through telephone, email and WhatsApp.
This initiative represents a significant milestone in the deepening of democratic governance and aligns with globally accepted principles of citizen participation, transparency, accountability, responsiveness and inclusive governance. Democracy is most meaningful when citizens are not merely voters during elections but active participants in governance through continuous engagement, feedback and oversight. The proposed Citizens’ Engagement Centre has the potential to institutionalise this democratic ideal.
CEHRAWS particularly welcomes the Governor’s recognition that governance should be accessible to every citizen, irrespective of social status or geographical location. The planned integration of the platform with expanded telecommunications coverage across the state further demonstrates a commitment to ensuring that even residents of rural communities are not excluded from engaging with government.
Around the world, successful citizen engagement platforms have shown that technology is only an enabler; the real measure of success lies in government’s willingness and capacity to respond promptly, transparensively and effectively to citizens’ concerns. Consequently, the true value of the Citizens’ Engagement Centre will not be determined by the sophistication of its digital infrastructure, but by its ability to deliver timely solutions, close feedback loops and build public confidence in government institutions.
While applauding this innovative initiative, CEHRAWS respectfully urges the Abia State Government to ensure that the Centre is not reduced to a ceremonial project but evolves into a functional, impactful and sustainable institution. To achieve this objective, we recommend the following:
✓ Establish clear service standards and response timelines for every Ministry, Department and Agency (MDA) receiving complaints through the platform.
✓ Develop a transparent complaint-tracking system that allows citizens to monitor the progress and resolution of their reports.
✓ Ensure adequate funding, skilled personnel and continuous staff training to guarantee efficient service delivery.
✓ Conduct sustained public awareness campaigns in both urban and rural communities, using English, Pigin and Igbo languages, to ensure widespread knowledge and utilisation of the platform.
✓ Make the Centre accessible to persons with disabilities through appropriate assistive technologies and inclusive communication channels.
✓ Publish periodic performance reports containing anonymised data on complaints received, actions taken, response times and resolution rates to strengthen public trust and institutional accountability.
✓ Establish an independent monitoring and evaluation framework involving civil society organisations and other stakeholders to periodically assess the Centre’s effectiveness and recommend improvements.
CEHRAWS further encourages citizens of Abia State to embrace this platform responsibly by providing constructive feedback, reporting genuine concerns and actively participating in the collective effort to improve governance and public service delivery.
If effectively implemented and sustained beyond political tenures, the Citizens’ Engagement Centre could become one of the most enduring institutional reforms in Abia State and a model for citizen-driven governance in the South-East and across Nigeria.
CEHRAWS once again congratulates Governor Alex Otti for this forward-looking initiative and expresses optimism that it will strengthen the social contract between government and the people, promote greater accountability in public administration and enhance confidence in democratic governance.
Signed:
Okoye, Chuka Peter
Executive Director, CEHRAWS
cehraws@gmail.com | +234(0)808-035-1242 (WhatsApp only)
Facebook: @cehraws
