By Gift Chapi Odekina, Abuja
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has called for stronger collaboration between the National Assembly and civil society organisations (CSOs), saying effective legislative oversight is key to ensuring that government decisions translate into tangible benefits for Nigerians.
Speaking at the National Assembly Open Week in Abuja on Tuesday, Dogara said that despite 25 years of uninterrupted democratic governance, many Nigerians were yet to feel the full impact of decisions taken by the legislature.
He questioned the persistent gap between what the National Assembly approves and what citizens eventually receive, stressing that the primary purpose of legislative oversight is to expose corruption, inefficiency and poor governance.
According to him, oversight should go beyond constitutional routine and serve as an effective mechanism for promoting accountability and ensuring value for public resources.
Dogara commended the leadership of the House of Representatives, led by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, for promoting greater public engagement through the National Assembly Open Week.
He described the initiative as a demonstration of courage, saying it provided an opportunity for lawmakers to engage directly with civil society organisations, the media and citizens.
The former Speaker warned that oversight would lose its relevance if reduced to a ceremonial exercise rather than serving as a tool for protecting the interests of Nigerians.
He said civil society organisations should be regarded as partners in strengthening democratic institutions, noting that they often possess valuable community-level information unavailable to lawmakers.
According to him, CSOs serve as the “eyes and ears” of the legislature by monitoring projects and providing credible evidence of implementation gaps.
Dogara recalled supporting the inclusion of civil society monitors during budget defence sessions despite opposition from some lawmakers, insisting that institutions that fear public scrutiny weaken public confidence.
He identified the disconnect between budget approvals and project implementation as one of Nigeria’s major governance challenges, describing it as a failure of accountability rather than underdevelopment.
To address the challenge, he urged the National Assembly to monitor budget implementation with the same commitment devoted to passing appropriation bills.
He also called on the executive to embrace transparency and constructive engagement with oversight institutions, while urging civil society organisations to present verified evidence and credible data capable of informing legislative action.
Dogara further urged the National Assembly to institutionalise its partnership with civil society beyond annual events, saying sustained collaboration would strengthen accountability and deepen democratic governance.
He maintained that democracy thrives where institutions embrace scrutiny and accountability, urging lawmakers, parliamentary staff and civil society organisations to work together to ensure that government policies and projects deliver meaningful benefits to Nigerians.
