In a bid to safeguard digital rights in Nigeria, trade unions and civil society organizations (CSOs) with support from Solidarity Centre West Africa have developed a comprehensive plan to protect and promote online freedom in Nigeria.
The plan was formulated during a two-day Civic Engagement and Digital Freedom Workshop organized by the Campaign for Transformative Governance (CFTG) and Solidarity Center West Africa in Abuja.
This development comes as a significant step in protecting digital rights in Nigeria, promoting online freedom, and fostering democratic progress.
Speaking during the workshop, organized by the Campaign for Transformative Governance (CFTG) and Solidarity Center West Africa, Jaiye Gaskiya, the CFTG Co-Convener emphasized the importance of a free and open civic space, which is critical to democratic progress.
The workshop, which drew participants from 10 states across Nigeria, was themed “Strengthening Solidarity: Trade Union and Civil Society Collaboration for Democratic Progress.”
Gaskiya noted that the more autocratic and dictatorial a society is, the more closed the civic space becomes, whereas a more democratic society enjoys a more open civic space.
He said, “trade unions and civil society organizations must fight for and defend the civic space, which includes the right to freedom of assembly, freedom of association, and freedom of expression.”
Our correspondent reports that through various sessions during the workshop, participants gained training on navigating the civic space, advocacy campaigns, social media, and digital freedom. They also discussed challenges and strategies for effective engagement.
A campaign and advocacy plan on digital rights was developed, outlining actions and responsibilities for stakeholders.
The Campaign for Transformative Governance is a labour and pro-labor civil society campaigning organization comprising the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical & Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), the Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria (FIWON), and pro-labor civil society organizations.
