Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has called for closer collaboration between the National Assembly and civil society organisations (CSOs), saying stronger legislative oversight is essential to ensuring government policies and projects deliver real benefits to Nigerians.
Speaking at the National Assembly Open Week in Abuja on Tuesday, Dogara said that despite 25 years of uninterrupted democratic rule, many Nigerians have yet to experience the full impact of decisions made by the legislature.
He questioned the gap between projects and policies approved by the National Assembly and what is eventually delivered to citizens, stressing that legislative oversight should expose corruption, inefficiency and poor governance.
According to Dogara, oversight should not be treated as a constitutional formality but as a vital tool for promoting accountability and ensuring public resources are properly utilised.
He commended the leadership of the House of Representatives, led by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, for organising the National Assembly Open Week, describing the initiative as a bold step toward greater transparency and public participation.
Dogara said the programme provides an opportunity for lawmakers to engage directly with civil society groups, the media and members of the public.
He warned that oversight would lose its value if reduced to a ceremonial exercise instead of serving as a mechanism for protecting the interests of Nigerians.
The former Speaker also described civil society organisations as important partners in strengthening democracy, noting that they often possess grassroots information that may not be readily available to lawmakers.
He said CSOs serve as the “eyes and ears” of the legislature by monitoring projects and identifying gaps in implementation.
Dogara recalled supporting the participation of civil society groups during budget defence sessions despite opposition from some lawmakers, arguing that institutions that avoid public scrutiny risk losing public confidence.
He identified the disconnect between budget approvals and project execution as one of Nigeria’s major governance challenges, attributing it to weak accountability rather than underdevelopment.
To address the problem, Dogara urged the National Assembly to devote as much attention to monitoring budget implementation as it does to passing appropriation bills.
He also called on the executive arm of government to embrace transparency and cooperate with oversight institutions, while encouraging civil society organisations to provide credible evidence and verified data to support legislative oversight.
Dogara further advocated institutionalising collaboration between the National Assembly and civil society beyond annual events, saying sustained partnerships would strengthen accountability, improve governance and ensure government programmes deliver meaningful results for Nigerians.
