A civil society organisation has called for partnership and synergy among stakeholders to promote inclusive and accountable democracy in Nigeria.
The call was contained in a welcome speech by the Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), Mr. Monday Osasah, at the just concluded high-level conference on Civic Space, Poverty, and Elections in Nigeria held in Abuja.
The conference which was organised in partnership with Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) aimed to “strengthen civic space and empowering civil society organisations (CSOs) to advocate for transformative changes”.
Mr..Osasah acknowledged the “complex, multifaceted and deeply intertwined, but our commitment to finding solutions is unwavering”, adding that, “Our goal is clear: to enhance democratic governance, social protection, and electoral integrity in Nigeria.
“We believe that by working together, we can build a more inclusive, transparent, and accountable democracy that truly serves the needs of all Nigerians.This project is timely, given the current state of our democracy.
“We have seen the constriction of civic space, widespread poverty, and electoral malpractices that hinder our nation’s development. However, we also see opportunities for reform and positive change”, he said.
The Executive Director highlighted some of its executed projects to include commissioned research papers, policy dialogues, and development of electoral reform memoranda.
The projects, he said, focused on key areas such as “protecting civic space, promoting merit-based appointments in INEC, and enhancing electoral credibility” he said.
He emphasised that the civic space was the lifeblood of democracy which “allows citizens to engage with their government, hold leaders accountable, and advocate for their rights”.
He however expressed confidence that “together, we can make a meaningful impact and contribute to the development of a more robust and inclusive democracy in Nigeria.
“Our collective efforts can help ensure that our civic space is protected, our elections are credible, and our citizens can participate fully in the democratic process”, he said.
