VAPP Bill: CSOs not enemies of policymakers – NDI They keep us on our toes – Hon Isaac Attah
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NIGERIA – Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are not enemies of policymakers in Nigeria but rather partners in progress, Senior Programme Officer, National Democratic Institute (NDI), Annabel Ugwoke has clarified.
Her clarification may not be unconnected to the perception some people in government have developed towards CSOs over the years especially in the area of revealing weaknesses of policymakers to their electorate as their watchdog which sometimes do not go down well with them.
Presenting a paper titled “Deepening Democracy: Role of Civil Society in the Legislative Process” on Saturday, day-2 of legislative advocacy campaign retreat for the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Bill in Kaduna State organised by Gender Awareness Trust (GAT) with support from NDI, Annabel noted that, the civil societies though may be many, but are working in four thematic areas of interest aiming at ensuring good governance.
The four thematic areas of interest which are humanitarian, development, human right and peace building, though some CSOs activities cut across all these areas with major interest as watchdog, ensuring that the interest of the people are well represented.
She described government as a social contract between the people and those that represent them at different levels, hence the need to take serious CSOs very serious whenever the need arises.
She described government as a social contract between the people and those that represent them at different levels, hence the need to take serious CSOs very serious whenever the need arises.
“Beyond legislative process, CSOs also participate in election process to ensure that marginalised people are carried along.
“We are here to see what we can do to domesticate VAPP Act in Kaduna State because we know that the state has its peculiarity so the input of the citizens can be harvested to serve them better.
“CSOs work with evidence based data before embarking on any campaign. They sometimes move away from being confrontational towards collaboration, cultivating partnership with those that will pass the bill.
“Although there are some assumptions and perceptions that CSOs in Nigeria are partisan, confrontational and aggressive towards the government, however that has not always been the case.
“There are evidence of occasions where the government have collaborated with CSOs to protect human rights, strengthen government institutions, alleviate poverty, combat corruption and promote an open government. The benefits have far outweighted the negative perception”, she commended.
Reacting, member representing Kauru constituency and Chairman, House Committee on Health, Kaduna State House of Assembly (KSHA), Hon Isaac Attach Zankai hinted that, he never see CSOs as enemies but motivators who keep the representatives of people on their toes in the interest of all.
“I really appreciate CSOs because they put all of us in government on our toes for the sake of all of us.
“I want to advice that, if CSOs can go and see national issue and begin to advocate them at state level. By the time you do that, you will arose our knowledge.
“We pass laws everyday. But they are not implemented by the executive arm. So CSOs have a lot to do to engage the executives both at federal and state levels.
“Some of these issues can be addressed headlong but we need the executive to have serious political will to implement some of the laws we have passed. I didn’t see you as been confrontational but rather, as partners in progress and I commend you on that”, added the lawmaker.
Raising a point of information, Deputy Country Director, NDI, Raymond Esegbabon reminded the participating lawmakers that, apart from making laws, they were also saddled with the responsibility of oversight functions where they ensure the laws they passed are implemented, ” you are not just to expose corruption but also see the need that the right things are done.”
However, Executive Director, LEADS-Nigeria, Rebecca Sako-John noted that, lawmakers are also part of CSOs because they belong to one professional body or union.
She said, “CSOs are working together with government. Even as lawmakers, you are still part of CSOs because you belong to one union or the other outside the assembly.
“You can engage CSO on research and that will help you to perform your oversight functions better because you cannot be everywhere but these people are.
“For example, my organisation had trained people from all the local government areas in the state on how they can develop their own charter of demands which will help the executive and lawmakers to execute community development projects as oppose to personal demands which are common now.”
SOLA OJO
The four thematic areas of interest which are humanitarian, development, human right and peace building, though some CSOs activities cut across all these areas with major interest as watchdog, ensuring that the interest of the people are well represented.
She described government as a social contract between the people and those that represent them at different levels, hence the need to take serious CSOs very serious whenever the need arises.
She described government as a social contract between the people and those that represent them at different levels, hence the need to take serious CSOs very serious whenever the need arises.
“Beyond legislative process, CSOs also participate in election process to ensure that marginalised people are carried along.
“We are here to see what we can do to domesticate VAPP Act in Kaduna State because we know that the state has its peculiarity so the input of the citizens can be harvested to serve them better.
“CSOs work with evidence based data before embarking on any campaign. They sometimes move away from being confrontational towards collaboration, cultivating partnership with those that will pass the bill.
“Although there are some assumptions and perceptions that CSOs in Nigeria are partisan, confrontational and aggressive towards the government, however that has not always been the case.
“There are evidence of occasions where the government have collaborated with CSOs to protect human rights, strengthen government institutions, alleviate poverty, combat corruption and promote an open government. The benefits have far outweighted the negative perception”, she commended.
Reacting, member representing Kauru constituency and Chairman, House Committee on Health, Kaduna State House of Assembly (KSHA), Hon Isaac Attach Zankai hinted that, he never see CSOs as enemies but motivators who keep the representatives of people on their toes in the interest of all.
“I really appreciate CSOs because they put all of us in government on our toes for the sake of all of us.
“I want to advice that, if CSOs can go and see national issue and begin to advocate them at state level. By the time you do that, you will arose our knowledge.
“We pass laws everyday. But they are not implemented by the executive arm. So CSOs have a lot to do to engage the executives both at federal and state levels.
“Some of these issues can be addressed headlong but we need the executive to have serious political will to implement some of the laws we have passed. I didn’t see you as been confrontational but rather, as partners in progress and I commend you on that”, added the lawmaker.
Raising a point of information, Deputy Country Director, NDI, Raymond Esegbabon reminded the participating lawmakers that, apart from making laws, they were also saddled with the responsibility of oversight functions where they ensure the laws they passed are implemented, ” you are not just to expose corruption but also see the need that the right things are done.”
However, Executive Director, LEADS-Nigeria, Rebecca Sako-John noted that, lawmakers are also part of CSOs because they belong to one professional body or union.
She said, “CSOs are working together with government. Even as lawmakers, you are still part of CSOs because you belong to one union or the other outside the assembly.
“You can engage CSO on research and that will help you to perform your oversight functions better because you cannot be everywhere but these people are.
“For example, my organisation had trained people from all the local government areas in the state on how they can develop their own charter of demands which will help the executive and lawmakers to execute community development projects as oppose to personal demands which are common now.”
SOLA OJO
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