Press Statement:
The Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu on Wednesday in Marakesh Morroco invited top business executives to explore the huge business opportunities and investments in AMAC, while his Administration would continue to make determined efforts to improve the enabling environment for businesses to flourish.
Speaking during Africa-Middle East Open Government Partnership (OGP) in Marakesh, MORROCO, he addressed the leadership of the forum and declared that “AMAC remains committed to creating a stable and enabling business environment for foreign investors through the formulation of sound economic policies and improved governance,” adding that “the security forces have been working assiduously with local communities to ensure the security of lives and properties of residents of the Council and foreign investors.”
According to him, “the Abuja Municipal Area Council has made a crucial effort at translating the ideals of the forum. We have made deliberate attempts to engage the electorate in our fiscal processes especially,
from project conception and execution.
“In line with the principles of OGP, we
have conducted Government business transparently just as management has
ensured that people understood and appreciate the workings of representative
democracy.
“Furthermore, we have held town hall meetings, made publications on projects, and involved the people who have been our major stakeholders.
“With our membership in this noble organization, we promise to put more effort into strengthening our feedback and accountability policy by embarking on a conscious media publicity drive.
Aside from the objective of OGP as a platform for entrenching good governance, fostering inclusiveness and compliance with stipulated laws and acceptable mechanisms for transparent and accountable leadership, we are fully guided by OGp’s leadership and remain grateful for that.
“We shall soon embark on the digitization of all our internal revenue operations.
“Our involvement with the OGP has led to the re-enforcement of our vision for entrenching good governance in the governance of the Area Council”
According to Maikalangu, he said his administration will continue to do things that shall enhance service delivery.
He, however, solicited the support of OGP and other spirited Civil Society Groups for more partnership with the Council in
respect to funding of some critical sectors as well as scholarships.
He further appealed to foreign investors, corporate donors and public-spirited organizations to assist in establishing
waste recycling plants, provide the technical know-how for us to tackle the daunting challenges of managing environmental waste in our Area Council.
“We shall soon embark on another round of ward town hall meetings to collate data on community needs for the 2023 budget process in like manner as the 2022 first-ever AMAC citizens budget.
“This is another assurance that citizens under our leadership can contribute to the Area Council’s budgetary processes and policy implementation.
Maikalangu also expressed special gratitude to the OGP Local SO partners; the DEAN Initiative and all the action plan partners: Centre LSD, ActionAid Nigeria, Budgit Nigeria, DEAN Initiative, CISLAC and OGP Secretariat.
Kingsley Madaki
Senior Special Assistant Media and Public Affairs to AMAC Chairman