The action of Upper Nile State governor, James Odhok towards institutions that have failed to perform their roles, calls for strategy review with stakeholders.

It might sound harsh, but the truth must be spoken out to set us free, as the Bible puts it clear that salt that has lost its taste must be thrown out. Why do you, then, deserve to be called by your past while presently inactive? How do you keep trees that do not bear fruits and still call it an orchard instead of a forest?

In this regard, the government, more especially at state and county levels has the role of assessing performance of institutions in relation to their budgetary threshold.

For transparency and accountability, every institution, whether governmental or non-governmental organizations, should declare its budget to the authority. At the time of exhaustion, the very authority will stand by to explain the expenditure without hearsay, but lack of openness in between the two parties, breads mistrust.

Transparency in time of financial hardship is another communication that institutions need to share and bear with the stakeholders.

Indeed, how would the World interpret a prevailing dire situation of refugees and returnees who are stuck at Wadakon town of Manyo County, yet there are institutions on ground, entitled to handle the huddle?

At the moment, the global reflection of persons in need of humanitarian aid is so terrifying and resources, constrained. However, transparent operations with adequate information flow will always build trust among parties concerned to traverse through hard times.

An old adage that “hard times make people hard” is what might have formed the governor’s opinion, and indeed tough times need tough decisions to make things going.

An institution cannot just exist for its beautiful name, rather be its beautiful functions and actions speak what it stands for or else it is masquerading or a quack. One cannot claim to be a farmer without planting a seed nor a fine artist who cannot sketch.

Proactive actions towards the needy and vulnerable makes aid agencies what they are, not their presence.

Together for peace.