Feedback Mechanism is a two-way process where the citizens give inputs on governance (both to the executive and the legislative assembly) and on the service delivery processes, and then the Government provides prompt and adequate feedback to the inputs of the citizens..

Feedback Mechanism in Government is very important, as it contributes to trust and confidence building between the government and the ccitizens. It also helps to inform and guide the government on what is working and what is not, and also, the areas that require attention or improvement.

These Feedback Mechanisms can be meaningfully effective only if they are timely, and that they are communicated clearly in formats and means that are mutually and easily accessible, affordable and appreciated both by the citizens and the government.

Feeback Mechanisms help to put the citizens at the center of governance and service delivery process through the following means:
(i) Empowerment— putting the citizens at center of service provision and delivery of incentives;
(ii) Transparency— openness and sharing of information without unnecessary hindrances;
(iii) Accountability— enabling the citizens to monitor the service levels and the service quality;
(iv) Participation— including the citizens in the policy design and implementation.

Effective use of feedback mechanisms provides an opportunity to reorient existing service delivery systems, as well as shape new ones.

The growing use of digital technologies, including mobile connectivity and the internet, offers new opportunities to institute a range of scalable feedback mechanisms that are far speedier, and probably less costly, than the traditional approaches of formal writing, sponsored media and print broadcasts, and physical meetings.

In Nigeria currently, there are existing systems that are supposed to serve as the media for Feedback Mechanisms.
For instance, all the Ministries and Parastatals, including the various State Governments and their Governors, all have their various websites and their Various Active Facebook Pages, which they update frequently. But they have never solicited for inputs from the citizens. Even when the Citizens give their unsolicited inputs, their inputs are always being ignored.
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There are three types of systems for Feedback Mechanisms.
1. Principal-Driven Feedback Mechanisms, where the Government Solicits for input from the citizens on certain issues.
2. Manager-Driven Feedback Mechanisms, where a separate entity which is not the Government not the citizens, (and who is not acting in the capacity of the Government or the citizens), gathers the inputs from the citizens and relay them to the Government and also help the Government in categorising and analysing such inputs.
3. Citizen-Driven Feedback Mechanisms, where the citizens develop their own means of getting their unsolicited inputs across to the Government.

A Participatory Government should make sure that the first two methods are constantly employed in order to minimize the possibility of the citizens opting for the third method.. Nevertheless, whenever the citizens decided to opt for the third method for whatever reasons best known to them, they shouldn't be ignored.
For instance, during the time when Dr. Chris Ngige was the Governor of Anambra State, he usually attends live phone-in programs on radio and television.
He happened to be the only Governor that did such a thing in Anambra.
People were so happy with such a Feedback Mechanism. They looked forward to the program, so that they can contribute their own inputs in governance.

Our Governors...
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Please Take Note

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Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo In Particular...
....Please Take Note
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Lalasticlala,
Seun