On Monday, August, 21, 2023, members of Anambra's Executive and Legislature embarked on a two-day retreat.
With the understanding of its importance, both arms of government are certainly on the verge of forging a stronger bond towards achieving the "One Anambra Agenda."
The Retreat had the theme "Strengthening Leadership Collaboration For Effective Governance And Delivery Of The Anambra Agenda". The Tony Blair Foundation helped to facilitate the meeting which also had break-out sessions, thematic discussions, among others.
At the end, the bi-governmental arms' retreat which was held at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Agulu, turned to be the needed 'oil' for the wheels of progress and advancement of Anambra State.
The retreat meeting which is probably a first in the region, offered a unique opportunity to deliberate on a wide range of issues affecting ndị Anambra.
By virtue of being held outside the usual chambers of government in a more relaxed and informal environment, it allowed participants to express themselves more freely. The retreat provided an opportunity for the state lawmakers, policymakers, and their staff to have in-depth conversations about important issues that require immediate or long-term solutions.
For the executive arm of government technically led by the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, the retreat meeting provided an opportunity to interact with lawmakers from different political parties and ideologies. It allowed the executive to present its policy initiatives and legislative agenda for the future, to the legislature for deliberation. Also, the retreat meeting created a mutual understanding between lawmakers and policymakers, which will eventually lead to better coordination and alignment of government activities.
On the other hand, the legislative arm of government, led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, ideally utilized the retreat meeting to push for its own policy initiatives and urge the executive to prioritize its legislative agenda. It enabled the lawmakers to pitch their ideas to policymakers and engage them in meaningful discussions on how to address issues that affect their constituents. Additionally, the meeting was used to enhance the capacity of lawmakers, especially in areas where they lack expertise.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo who addressed the media on the sidelines of the retreat emphasized that the basic agenda of the present government is to enthrone a liveable and prosperous smart mega city.
According to the Governor, only one ball exists in the field which is project Anambra, irrespective of party differences, pointing out that the determination to make the state work is unflinching. He spoke on the huge Anambra agenda with a deadline, deploying the Vision 2070 Report, the Solution Manifesto and the Transition Committee document. Governor Soludo also stressed that it is an agenda with limited resources, maintaining that Anambra people are in a hurry to witness transformation of the state from largely being a departure lounge to a place where people will love to live, work, relax and enjoy.
The Governor who reeled out the five pillars of his administration to include, security, law and order, economic transformation, human capital and social agenda, governance and value system as well as environment, emphasized that relative to his government's resource-base constraints, appreciable progress is being made by prioritizing the use of those resources.
In fact, ndị Anambra should be desirous of such partnership. Gone are the days when 'fist cuts' between the Executive and Legislature is seen as symptom of progress or enactment and promotion of the people's interest. Such retreat meeting offers a veritable platform to promote inter-branch relationships among different arms of government.
It is an opportunity for participants from different branches to interact, build relationships, and deepen their understanding of each other's areas of responsibility. Such relationships are essential in strengthening the state's democratic governance and improving the delivery of public services. It enables participants to engage in honest and open discussions without fear of reprisal or political backlash.
It is evident that Governor Soludo and Rt. Hon. Udeze understand that retreat meetings can also be used to build consensus among participants on issues of state importance. Consensus-building is essential in the legislative process, especially where lawmakers come from different political parties and have divergent views on certain issues. It provided an opportunity for participants to understand each other's perspectives and arrive at a common understanding that can lead to the formulation of effective policies and programs.
In conclusion, it is essential for Anambra State government to hold such retreat involving the executive and legislature, to foster sustainable democratic governance in the state. It should be encouraged to continue because it is important in promoting dialogue, collaboration, and cooperation in addressing critical challenges facing the state; moreso, engendering the "Anambra Agenda" of a liveable and prosperous smart mega city where ndị Anambra and the likes will love to live, work, relax and enjoy.
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