The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has tasked Nigerians to engage in active and equal participation in governance in the country.
This was made known at a town hall meeting with the theme: “Promoting Citizens’ Participation in Governance and Protection of Dissent” which took place at Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja.
A Lecturer in Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Dr Bunmi Afinowi, who gave the presentation, said that asking questions and holding people in power accountable were ways to improve governance.
Afinowi said that local governance gave room for people at the grassroots to participate, and the constitution, regardless of its flaws, served as an important tool in the hands of the citizens.
She said that according to the global governance index, Nigeria scored less than 20 out of 100 in the global good governance while it scored 150 out of 180 in the 2021 corruption index.
“These are enough reasons for citizens to properly participate in improving the indices of governance in Nigeria,” Afinowi said.
The doctor also said that challenging government’s actions that were not linked to the rule of law was one of the ways of participation.
“It is essential to hold the government at the grassroots accountable.
“The local level government should give room for market traders, NURTW, landlord association, artisans and the likes to have equal rights in governance.
“The constitution may not be what we want or may not be the best but it is what we have and we have a constitutional guaranteed right to say something about governance and it should not in any way cause violence.
“When you ask questions, they will label you a troublemaker but it is okay, because next time, when they see you, they will not want that trouble.”
Afinowi also admonished Nigerians to embrace a nodal system of governance where small groups of people were instrumental to the governance of a society.
She said that associations were useful small groups that could impact governance by paying courtesy visits and registering their existence with the chairpersons of local governments.
According to her, the Chapter two of the 1999 Nigerian constitution (as amended), contained beneficial provisions for citizens but did not state anyone or agency to hold to accountable for the provisions.
She, however, said there were ways out of the problem of non-accountability in the constitution, which included international agreements and the fundamental human rights enshrined in the constitution.
“Nigeria has signed various international agreements that enforce the provisions of Chapter two, so, we can hold the government accountable.
“Also, Chapter four of the constitution contains fundamental human rights that nobody can take them away.
“In other words, I can use the provisions of Chapter four to uphold the provisions of Chapter two,” she added.
Afinowi berated an entitlement of “godfather system” in Nigeria and stressed on the need for community effort in improving governance in Nigeria. (NAN)
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