A Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, has called for stronger collaboration between the National Assembly and civil society organisations (CSOs), stressing that effective legislative oversight remains critical to ensuring that government policies, budgetary allocations and approved projects translate into tangible benefits for Nigerians.
He made the call while speaking at the National Assembly Open Week in Abuja, where lawmakers, civil society groups, development partners and members of the media gathered to discuss strategies for strengthening transparency, accountability and citizen participation in governance.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s 25 years of uninterrupted democratic rule, the former Speaker observed that many citizens were yet to experience the full dividends of democracy despite the enormous resources appropriated by the National Assembly over the years.
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He questioned why there continues to be a significant disconnect between what the legislature approves and what eventually reaches the people, describing the gap as one of the country’s most pressing governance challenges.
According to him, the constitutional responsibility of legislative oversight extends far beyond routine committee visits and official reports, insisting that it should serve as a powerful instrument for exposing corruption, inefficiency, waste and poor governance.
“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 stated.
Mr Dogara commended the leadership of the House of Representatives, under Speaker Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen and Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, for creating a platform that promotes openness and direct engagement between lawmakers and citizens through the National Assembly Open Week.
He described the initiative as a bold and commendable step towards deepening democratic accountability, noting that it gives citizens, civil society organisations and the media an opportunity to engage lawmakers directly, ask difficult questions and contribute meaningfully to legislative processes.
According to him, democratic institutions become stronger when they willingly subject themselves to public scrutiny rather than operating behind closed doors.
The former Speaker cautioned that legislative oversight loses its essence when it is reduced to a ceremonial exercise instead of serving as an effective mechanism for safeguarding the interests of Nigerians and ensuring faithful implementation of government programmes.
He argued that civil society organisations should not be viewed as external critics of government but as indispensable partners in strengthening democratic governance. He noted that many CSOs possess community-based information, technical expertise and field evidence that are often unavailable to lawmakers.
He described civil society organisations as the “eyes and ears” of the legislature, explaining that they play a crucial role in monitoring constituency projects, tracking public expenditure and providing credible evidence of implementation failures and service delivery gaps.
Recalling his tenure as Speaker, Dogara said he deliberately encouraged the participation of civil society organisations during budget defence sessions despite opposition from some lawmakers who were uncomfortable with public scrutiny.
To bridge the gap, Mr Dogara urged the National Assembly to devote the same level of commitment to monitoring budget implementation as it does to passing appropriation bills, insisting that legislative work should not end once the budget is approved.
He also called on the executive arm of government to embrace transparency, cooperate fully with oversight institutions and provide timely access to information required for effective legislative scrutiny.
Addressing civil society organisations, Mr Dogara urged them to support legislative oversight with verified evidence, credible data and properly documented findings capable of informing policy decisions and prompting corrective action where necessary.
He further advocated the institutionalisation of collaboration between the National Assembly and civil society organisations beyond annual engagements such as the Open Week, saying sustained partnerships would strengthen oversight, improve accountability and enhance public confidence in democratic institutions.
