By Chesa Chesa
A coalition of civil society organizations on Thursday presented a study report titled “Fortifying Policy Influence of Civic Actors in Nigeria: The Case of On Nigeria Program” during a policy dialogue in Abuja.
The event, organized by Joinbodi Cohort, grantees of the On Nigeria Program supported by the MacArthur Foundation, provided a platform for stakeholders to assess policy changes influenced over the last eight years of implementing grant projects in Nigeria.
The policy dialogue between state and non-state actors sought to identify outstanding policy recommendations requiring implementation by policy makers while evaluating risks to sustaining existing policy reforms.
Since 2015, civil society organizations within the Joinbodi Cohort of the On Nigeria Program and policy actors have partnered to address issues and impact of corruption, impunity, and lack of accountability on access to and quality of public services, good governance and well-being of Nigerians.
Cohort members implemented several initiatives influencing policy practices to limit cost of corruption, improve data accessibility, enhance implementation of Administration of Criminal Justice Law and strengthen transparency and accountability in Nigeria.
Speaking during the Dialogue, Executive Director at the Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI), Olusegun Elemo noted that “while substantial progress had been made in influencing policy changes, sustaining these changes will require continued investment in strengthening capacity and fostering strategic collaboration for actors on the supply and demand sides of governance while mitigating against impeding factors such as funding constraints, lack of political will and insecurity affecting many parts of the country.”
Additionally, Joinbodi Cohort members emphasized the need for whistleblower protection law, legal framework for tracking constituency projects, increased support for upscaling asset recovery, effective implementation of audit laws, and the need to curb gender-based violence.
The Joinbodi Cohort members include Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI); Women’s Rights Advancement & Protection Alternative (WRAPA); Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation; Agora Policy Foundation; Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC); Policy & Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC); Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI); BudgIT Foundation; African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD); Centre for Information Technology & Development (CITAD); Civil Society Legislative & Advocacy Centre (CISLAC);
Others are the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC); Connected Development Initiative (CODE); Community Life Project (CLP); HEDA Resource Centre; Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP); Social Action; Arewa Research & Development Project (ARDP); Neem Foundation; Joy Incredible Limited; Initiative for Research, Innovation, and Advocacy in Development; Brookings Institution’s Africa Growth Initiative; Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED); African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL); American University – School of International Service; Transparency and Accountability Initiative.
