Taraba CSOs establish situation room to tackle environmental issues
Jethro Yerga, Jalingo
Taraba State Civil Society organizations, CSOs, have established a situation room to tackle various environmental challenges in Taraba State in particular and Nigeria at large.
The Chairman, Civil Society Organizations, Taraba State, Dr Joseph Gimba disclosed the development while addressing Journalists at the occasion of the celebration of World NGOs Day held in Jalingo, the Taraba State Capital.
He stated that the situation room was aimed at discussing issues that bordered on environmental degradation and other related issues that constituted major challenges to the well being of people in societies.
“We have identified close to 30 Government and private organizations that we are going to engage. We hope to stage our programs at least twice in a month.
“Already, as we are approaching raining season, the first assignment at the situation is to come up with guidelines to avert flooding in the state. We have gone through the bulletin of NEMA and are going to work closely with it to achieve the desired result”. He stated.
He pledged to partner with the media to reach out to the target audience at all times and in the most effective maner to ensure improvement in their total well being in the state.
The Chairman further called on the Taraba State Government to increase involvement of Civil Society organizations in its committees and activities and to fulfilled its obligation with them to enable them acquire essential materials that would enhance their performance.
“The fact is that we have wealth of experience such that whenever we are allowed to partake in those activities of government, we bring in new learning by bridging the gab between what is with the government and what is out there.
“Between 2016 and 2020, CSOs in the state under my leadership, have been able to raise over 6 hundred billion naira for various activities in Taraba State in the areas of education, environment, health and social protection. We are doing much, but if we have our capacity built, we will do better”. He said
Meanwhile, the Director of International Cooperation with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Wilfred Jimu and Mr Daniel Abah, a social activist and Development Practitioner, in their separate messages, emphasized that the World NGOs Day aimed at drawing government attention to actively engage NGOs in its activities for sustainable development.
