CSOs: building citizens’ trust, engendering democratic stability
By Perpetua Onuegbu,
Like every other thing created by God or his creation, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) is borne out of a necessity of government not meeting the fundamental reason why it is established which is the welfare of the citizenry.
And most importantly the lack of an interface between the government and the governed especially in the era of military dictatorship.
CSOs are expected to serve as an interface between the government and the citizens of societies therefore bridging the gap in communication and feedback.
However, within the context of democratisation process which requires the establishment of a synergy, partnership and compromise, CSOs being the critical stakeholders do perform roles that encourage stability in Nigeria’s democratic experience since 1999.
Civil Society Organisations have been key to the return of democracy and democratic tenets in Nigeria, groups like National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD).
Others are Committee for Defense of Human Rights (CDHR) and Campaign for Democracy (CD), Connect Development (CODE), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre(CISLAC) among others contribute to the stabilisation of democracy in the country.
During the military era between 1993 and 1999, CSOs partnered with some professional bodies like Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to organise protests against the military rule that engendered it’s end.
NADECO was created in 1994 when it became obvious that the military junta of Gen. Sani Abacha was not willing to return the country to democratic rule following its unrealistic political transition process.
The organisation was consistent in its criticism of the military junta, and joined other civil society groups to establish the umbrella United Democratic Front of Nigeria (UDFN).
This led to the establishment of a journal, Nigerian Liberation and Radio Kudirat an anti-military radio.
The activity of NADECO and these mediums helped to end of the military government in the country which was fast tracked by the demise of the then military head of state, Gen. Sani Abacha.
Civil society organisations in Nigeria have been recognised as important agents to societal development as observed from their activities and impacts in the country.
They have contributed immensely to the country by improving the quality of governance, developing capacity of government to apply the principles of accountability, transparency and fair-play in the distribution of justice.
They have also played critical roles in the provision of public goods, social welfare services, humanitarian services, socio-economic empowerment and more importantly restraining the abuse of state power by government.
CSOs are veritable organisations that work within different areas of operations in the democratisation process because their objectives and methods are distinct, yet their activities reinforce the development of democracy.
In Nigeria we have different kinds of civil societies with particular focus and modus operandi, there are the ones that their activities are political, health, education, human rights, environment and climate change, gender, capacity building etc.
All these areas even though they are diverse they help to shape the government by bridging the gap where government was falling short by taking proactive steps and calling governments attention to issues.
Speaking in an interview Hon. Victor Ibuzor, , Chairman, House Committee, Civil Societies and Development Matters, Member House of Representatives, said all stakeholders including the citizens who are not in governance belong to the civil society.
``CSO role in nation building cannot be understated in security, health, SDGs looking at the zero hunger, they play a massive role apart from educating and building capacity of persons who are in charge of carrying out different responsibilities.
``They empower people financially and otherwise, the civil society is part of government, for me it is the third tier of government after the government, the private sector, you have the civil society.
``CSOs cause the people in government to behave properly because they scrutinise and criticise government policies and they have brought us to a point where accountability is becoming more of a practice.
``The organisations are at the fore front of advocating for transparency, although we have those who may be utilised by power mongers who use them to rise propaganda and undo the system.
"Of course we have the bad eggs but at the end of the day we have more of the focused and good societies in existence," Ibuzor said.
Presently one of the CSOs in the country, Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre (PAACA) is touring the six geopolitical zones of the country with the launch of its Electoral Reform Campaign across the 36 states and the FCT.
The theme of the `campaign`ChangeOurElection’ according to the Executive Director, PAACA , Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu, this became necessary as many challenges are noticed during the 2023 general election and some citizens were not satisfied with the management and process of the election.
``As the country goes into future elections PAACA initiative aims to address those challenges by promoting transparency, accountability and citizens’
participation in the electoral process.
``Also you notice that the electoral act is one of the most popular book but hardly read by many, you find that even the most unschooled person in Nigeria thinks he knows all about the electoral act.
``Hence the sensitisation to the grass roots is key in educating the populace on the electoral reform act and what are those things that the electorate should know before future elections.
"And all stakeholders including community heads, youth leaders and political parties are to be carried along in this campaign which will be in the form of a town hall meeting,"Nwagwu said.
At the moment PAACA has covered seven states in the federation which include Uyo, Kano, Jigawa, Enugu, Awka and Lagos.
It is presently in Cross River State educating and enlightening the citizens about electoral reforms act and strengthening citizenry participation in the electoral process and deepening the nation's democratic experience.
On his part, the Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Mr Samson Itodo, said CSOs have been on the forefront at ensuring that political leaders deliver on their promises to the people by ensuring accountability to campaign promises.
``They strengthen democracy and evolving or developing a culture of accountability within the polity.
``They serve as interlocutors between the government and the citizens and so where citizens have issues they want their leaders to attend to CSOs amplify the cases, the causes and the yearnings and aspiration of leaders to act on them.
``CSOs either through formal or informal engagement promote policies and legislations that advance governance, in the national assembly like what YIAGA Africa does is engaging in parliamentary strengthening .
``Training legislators on their functions, creating spaces for legislators to pass laws that advance democracy and good governance that also contribute to political stability in Nigeria.
``They prevent against elite capture of society that oppress people and unable to voice or engage the political process, by virtue of their activities ensure that political actors don’t capture state and make the state so powerful that it cannot deliver the promise of democracy.
Itodo added that without civil society it would be difficult for government to build trust among the people and trust was key to fostering development.
Recall that YIAGA Africa recently published a 71 paged report on the outcomes of the 2023 General Elections and Off Circle Elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states.
The organisation in the report made some recommendations which included calling on President Bola Tinubu to make his stand known on electoral reforms.
It also called on the judiciary to undertake a self-reflection especially around conflicting judgement that was issued by the judiciary as they were disturbing and they input on public trust in judiciary.
The importance of CSOs in strengthening the country's democracy is yet crystallised in a recent Multi- Stakeholders National Dialogue on Preventing Terrorism Financing and Violent Extremism organised by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC).
At the occasion the Executive Director, CISLAC, Auwal Musa (Rafsanjani) called for an all inclusive conversation on how to curb terrorism which had bedeviled the country especially in the North East.
Musa said consequences of terrorism had continued to aggravate extreme poverty rates among Nigerians, internal displacement, devastated livelihoods, just as opportunities for broader growth, development and prosperity were destroyed.
As part of the solution to the problem he called on parents to give birth to children they can provide for while calling for support for security agencies and the need for collaboration among the agencies.
He also advised the FCT Minister to reactivate the Social Welfare Department in the FCDA to help prevent the recruitment of young children into terrorist organisations.
Hence, the dialogue brought together state and non-state actors like the ICPC, EFCC, members of the National Assembly among others who proffered solutions to end terrorism in the country and allow government to focus on providing citizens with dividends of democracy.
In reviewing the roles of CSOs in Nigerian's democracy it would be an understatement to say that they help to stabilising the polity because of their activities in capacity building and mobilisation of the citizens.
This is evident in the activities of CSOs above and if our people take seriously these efforts will for sure entrench our democracy with the opposition playing more visible roles in achieving good governance.(NAN)
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