The Change We Need Nigeria Initiative (TCWNNI) has urged Nigerians to reject corruption, dishonesty and vote-buying, stressing that national transformation requires citizens to uphold accountability and integrity beyond elections.
The call was made at the initiative’s 2026 National Dialogue in Abuja, where speakers urged Nigerians to take greater responsibility for national development rather than leave the task solely to political leaders.
The dialogue, themed “The Change We Need: From Voters to Nation Builders Making Citizenship Count Beyond the Ballots in Nigeria,” emphasised that good governance depends on responsible leadership and citizens who uphold ethical standards in their daily lives.
The convener of the dialogue and Deputy President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Cosmos Ilechukwu, said Nigerians should credibly condemn corruption in government and disengage in dishonest practices or celebrating leaders accused of wrongdoing.
“We cannot demand accountability from the government while falsifying documents in our offices. We cannot condemn bribery in high places while offering money to officials to bypass the law,” he said.
Ilechukwu argued that national development depended not only on those holding political offices but also on the conduct of citizens in workplaces, marketplaces, schools, religious institutions and homes.
“A voter chooses a leader once in a while, but a nation builder contributes to the nation every day,” he said.
Ilechukwu warned against exchanging votes for food items, financial inducements or political promises, urging citizens to prioritise the country’s long-term future over temporary personal benefits.
According to him, meaningful national transformation requires moral, cultural and spiritual renewal, alongside responsible participation in the political process.
Ilechukwu urged Nigerians to translate these values into their professional conduct, noting that teachers, doctors, civil servants, business owners and religious leaders all had important roles to play in nation-building.
He said teachers should demonstrate excellence, doctors should treat patients with compassion and integrity, and civil servants should resist using public office for private gain. Business owners, he added, “should pay workers fairly, meet legitimate tax obligations and deal honestly with customers.”
The National Director of TCWNNI, Gabriel Baba, said citizenship required more than voting, urging Nigerians to combine demands for accountable leadership with personal responsibility and constructive civic engagement.
Baba said citizens must respect the rule of law, uphold integrity, demand accountability and contribute actively to the common good.
He said that such initiatives demonstrated how faith-based organisations could contribute to citizenship education, community development and public service.
“The change we need will not come through demands alone. It must also be demonstrated through our daily choices, our conduct in the workplace, our communities, our institutions and our treatment of one another,” Baba said.
Both speakers called for stronger cooperation among government, civil society organisations, faith communities and citizens to promote accountability and national development.
Other panellists also stressed that Nigeria’s progress depended on citizens who not only demanded better leadership but also demonstrated integrity, responsibility and a commitment to service in their everyday lives.
