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Dogara Urges National Assembly to Harness Civil Society in Fight for Accountability
By Gloria Ikibah
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has urged the National Assembly to forge stronger partnerships with civil society organisations (CSOs), saying effective legislative oversight is essential if government spending and public policies are to deliver real benefits to Nigerians.
Dogara made the appeal on Tuesday during the National Assembly Open Week in Abuja, where lawmakers, development partners, civil society groups and the media gathered to examine ways of strengthening transparency, accountability and public participation in governance.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, the former Speaker said many citizens were still waiting to enjoy the full dividends of democratic governance despite the huge sums approved by parliament over the years.
He questioned why there remained a wide gap between what the National Assembly appropriates and what ultimately reaches ordinary Nigerians, describing the disconnect as one of the country’s biggest governance failures.
“The essence of oversight is to ensure that every kobo appropriated by the National Assembly is spent for the purpose for which it was approved and that Nigerians receive value for public funds,” he said.
Dogara stressed that legislative oversight should not be reduced to routine committee visits or the production of official reports, arguing that its real purpose is to expose corruption, inefficiency, waste and poor governance.
He commended the leadership of the House of Representatives under Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu for introducing the National Assembly Open Week, describing it as an important step towards making parliament more accessible and accountable.
According to him, the initiative provides citizens, civil society organisations and the media with an opportunity to engage lawmakers directly, ask difficult questions and make meaningful contributions to the legislative process.
Dogara maintained that democratic institutions become stronger when they willingly open themselves to public scrutiny instead of operating behind closed doors.
He warned that legislative oversight loses its value when it becomes a ceremonial exercise rather than a genuine mechanism for ensuring government programmes are implemented as approved and in the public interest.
The former Speaker argued that civil society organisations should be regarded as partners in governance rather than critics standing on the sidelines.
He said many CSOs possess technical expertise, grassroots knowledge and field-based evidence that can strengthen the oversight work of parliament.
Describing civil society groups as the “eyes and ears” of the legislature, Dogara said they play an indispensable role in tracking constituency projects, monitoring public spending and identifying failures in service delivery.
Recalling his time as Speaker, he said he deliberately encouraged civil society participation during budget defence sessions despite resistance from some lawmakers who were uncomfortable with increased public scrutiny.
According to him, institutions that resist openness ultimately undermine public confidence in democratic governance.
Dogara identified the persistent gap between budget approvals and project execution as one of Nigeria’s greatest accountability challenges, arguing that the problem lies less with the availability of funds than with weak monitoring and enforcement.
He therefore urged lawmakers to devote as much attention to monitoring budget implementation as they do to passing appropriation bills, insisting that the work of parliament should not end once a budget is approved.
The former Speaker also called on the Executive to cooperate fully with legislative oversight by embracing transparency and providing timely access to information required for effective scrutiny.
He encouraged civil society organisations to support the National Assembly with credible data, verified evidence and properly documented findings capable of influencing policy and prompting corrective action where necessary.
Dogara further advocated institutionalising collaboration between parliament and civil society beyond annual events such as the Open Week, saying sustained engagement would strengthen oversight, improve accountability and deepen public trust in democratic institutions.
He concluded that democracy can only thrive where transparency, accountability and constructive criticism are embraced, urging lawmakers, parliamentary staff, civil society organisations and citizens to work together to ensure government policies, budgets and development projects translate into meaningful improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
By Prosper Olayiwola
A House of Assembly Candidate for Ikole Constituency 1 on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Kayode Arewa Sanni, has called on his constituents, party members and supporters to unite ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Arewa Sanni made the call in Ikole-Ekiti while addressing party faithful and supporters at a stakeholders’ meeting convened to strengthen grassroots mobilisation in the constituency.
He said the 2027 elections present a defining moment for the people of Ikole Constituency 1 to chart a new course of inclusive representation, people-oriented legislation and accelerated development.
The candidate noted that disunity among party members and supporters remains the greatest obstacle to victory, stressing that only a united front can dislodge entrenched interests and deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.
“I appeal to all our party leaders, members, supporters and well-wishers across Ikole Constituency 1 to put aside personal differences and work together as one family. Our strength lies in our unity,” he said.
Arewa Sanni said his candidacy was driven by a desire to give Ikole Constituency 1 a vibrant and responsive voice in the Ekiti State House of Assembly, with focus on youth empowerment, education, healthcare and rural infrastructure.
He assured constituents that if given the mandate, he would prioritise quality representation and ensure that government presence is felt in all communities within the constituency.
He also called on supporters of the ADC across Ekiti State to rally behind the party’s vision of good governance, transparency and accountability as preparations for the 2027 polls gather momentum.
The aspirant expressed confidence that with unity, commitment and collective effort, the ADC would emerge victorious in Ikole Constituency 1 and other constituencies across the state.
No fewer than six inmates have died within one week following a suspected cholera outbreak at the Kurmawa Maximum Prison in Kano State.
Amnesty International raised the alarm in a post on its official Facebook page, calling on authorities to immediately declare an emergency at the correctional facility.
Amnesty said several other inmates were currently receiving treatment, warning that the death toll could be higher as the suspected disease continues to spread among prisoners.
It urged the authorities to immediately transfer critically ill inmates to hospitals for proper medical attention to prevent further deaths.
The organisation warned that failure to urgently intervene could amount to arbitrary deprivation of life, which it described as a serious human rights violation under international law.
Amnesty also expressed concern over the broader conditions in Nigerian correctional facilities, particularly the prolonged detention of inmates awaiting trial.
According to the organisation, detainees without financial means face greater difficulty having their rights protected, with some spending years in custody without being convicted of any crime.
It further said many inmates were being held in overcrowded and unhygienic cells without adequate food and healthcare.
Amnesty called for urgent reforms to improve conditions in Nigerian correctional facilities and ensure compliance with international best practices.
Popular media personality and self-acclaimed relationship expert, Blessing Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, has reportedly lost her second son while remanded in custody.
The development was confirmed in an online appeal by Amira Agiye, head of the Isaamira Love Foundation, who spoke on Okoro’s behalf to request public financial assistance.
She said, “It is sad to announce to you all that Blessing CEO just lost her second son. My name is Amira Agiye.
“I’m here to appeal on behalf of Blessing CEO, who is currently in custody. I understand that people might have different opinions about her and the circumstances surrounding her case.
“And like every one of us, she deserves compassion and an opportunity for redemption.
She needs N20 million to meet the bail requirements. She also needs N36 million to pay the people she owes who brought the case against her.
“Please, Nigerians, let’s forgive her for the sake of that boy who is still in the mortuary. With Blessing’s full consent and authorisation, I’m appealing to all Nigerians to help donate so we can help her out of this situation.”
Also speaking in a voice conversation played by Amira, Blessing, CEO, said, “My second son, Bryan, was full of life. While in custody, I lost Bryan.
I pray this turns out positive so I can leave this place, pick up the pieces of my life and pay my respects to him.”
Recall that the self-acclaimed relationship expert was remanded in Kirikiri Prison over an N69.15 million property fraud trial.
She was granted N20 million bail in July 2026, with two sureties in like sum, and each surety was required to provide three years’ proof of deposits valued at N20 million.
Following her inability to meet the bail conditions, Blessing CEO, remains in prison facility two months after she was granted bail.
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