The Role of Civil Society The Role of Civil Society in Sustaining Reforms in in Sustaining Reforms in

NigeriaNigeriaBy By

Uche Igwe Uche Igwe MNESMNESPublish What You Pay Nigeria/NEITI Civil Society Publish What You Pay Nigeria/NEITI Civil Society

LiaisonLiaisonAt the Global Civil Society Forum SingaporeAt the Global Civil Society Forum Singapore

Monday 18Monday 18thth September 2006 September 2006

OutlineOutline

IntroductionIntroduction Civil Society in Nigeria before 1999Civil Society in Nigeria before 1999 Breaking the “us and them” dichotomy: The Breaking the “us and them” dichotomy: The

NEITI ExampleNEITI Example What Role for Civil Society in Reforms and What Role for Civil Society in Reforms and

shaping good governance?shaping good governance? Challenges to Strengthening the Challenges to Strengthening the

EngagementEngagement The Road AheadThe Road Ahead

IntroductionIntroduction It is indeed true that the old notion of governance ,one It is indeed true that the old notion of governance ,one

which suggested governance was an exclusive domain which suggested governance was an exclusive domain of governments is fast breaking down.of governments is fast breaking down.

The expanding role civil society groups have assumed, The expanding role civil society groups have assumed, in the development of modern society has become so in the development of modern society has become so important that no government desirous of fully important that no government desirous of fully harnessing the potentials can ignore this anymoreharnessing the potentials can ignore this anymore

A weak civil society is a symptom of budding political A weak civil society is a symptom of budding political and social instabilityand social instability

However, a vibrant civil society is an essential building However, a vibrant civil society is an essential building block for democratic survivalblock for democratic survival

Introduction.contd.Introduction.contd.

It is therefore longer contentious to It is therefore longer contentious to say that without the active say that without the active involvement of civil society, we involvement of civil society, we would live in a world ridden with would live in a world ridden with much more violence and human right much more violence and human right abuses, burdened with greater social abuses, burdened with greater social injustice and equipped with less injustice and equipped with less sensitivity to the plight of citizens!sensitivity to the plight of citizens!

Civil Society in Nigeria before Civil Society in Nigeria before 19991999

I thought it is best to review first generally what constitutes civil I thought it is best to review first generally what constitutes civil society generallysociety generally

Civil Society according to the Centre for Civil Society at the LSE Civil Society according to the Centre for Civil Society at the LSE that many seem to agree to is the “space between the family, that many seem to agree to is the “space between the family, state and market”state and market”

Another author defines it as “a bewildering array of organizations, Another author defines it as “a bewildering array of organizations, some progressive, others conservative, some civil others uncivil”some progressive, others conservative, some civil others uncivil”

It generally constitutes of NGO, CBOs, faith groups, women groups It generally constitutes of NGO, CBOs, faith groups, women groups etcetc

Out of these the most visible have been the non governmental Out of these the most visible have been the non governmental organizations NGOs.organizations NGOs.

In Nigeria, NGO activities flourished most as human right groups In Nigeria, NGO activities flourished most as human right groups campaigning for democracy against the Military Rule especially campaigning for democracy against the Military Rule especially but not exclusively as an aftermath of the annulment of June 12 but not exclusively as an aftermath of the annulment of June 12 1993 elections1993 elections

Civil Society in Nigeria Before Civil Society in Nigeria Before 19991999

Let me place on record the unrelenting role of civil Let me place on record the unrelenting role of civil society in Nigeria in confronting and ultimately society in Nigeria in confronting and ultimately frustrating military dictatorship in Nigeria.frustrating military dictatorship in Nigeria.

However the style and tactics that was effective However the style and tactics that was effective pre 1999 still forms the background of what in my pre 1999 still forms the background of what in my view the response of civil society engagement with view the response of civil society engagement with our emerging democracyour emerging democracy

That is to say the tone of the music changed but That is to say the tone of the music changed but the dancers on both sides continued with their the dancers on both sides continued with their stepssteps

Breaking the Us and Them Breaking the Us and Them Dichotomy: The NEITI ExampleDichotomy: The NEITI Example

One thing that lingered from our days One thing that lingered from our days under the military is the atmosphere of under the military is the atmosphere of mutual suspicion that existed between mutual suspicion that existed between civil society groups and governmentcivil society groups and government

This generally led weak inter-phase This generally led weak inter-phase between citizens and their government between citizens and their government and general apathyand general apathy

This apathy coincided with the time when This apathy coincided with the time when the President kick started the reforms in the President kick started the reforms in the oil and gas sector by signing on behalf the oil and gas sector by signing on behalf of Nigeria to the Extractive Industries of Nigeria to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).Transparency Initiative (NEITI).

The NEITI Example Cont.dThe NEITI Example Cont.d

The Multi Stakeholder nature of the National The Multi Stakeholder nature of the National Stakeholders Working Group, a body Stakeholders Working Group, a body inaugurated by the President to implement inaugurated by the President to implement NEITI constituted Civil Society NEITI constituted Civil Society Representatives.Representatives.

Even though the make up of the CSO team in Even though the make up of the CSO team in the NSWG received wide criticism from some the NSWG received wide criticism from some sections of civil society, however it was the sections of civil society, however it was the first time government and civil society sat on first time government and civil society sat on the same table to collective fashion out a the same table to collective fashion out a policy direction for our countrypolicy direction for our country

What Role for Civil Society in What Role for Civil Society in Reforms and Shaping Reforms and Shaping

Governance?Governance? The war against corruption as is going on The war against corruption as is going on

Nigerian is a step in the right directionNigerian is a step in the right direction However cleaning up institutions without However cleaning up institutions without

allowing citizens to develop the knowledge allowing citizens to develop the knowledge and skills that will trigger civic competence and skills that will trigger civic competence at the grassroots will only lead to policy at the grassroots will only lead to policy discontinuitydiscontinuity

In this regard civil society groups who enjoy In this regard civil society groups who enjoy trust among their members are best trust among their members are best positioned to become ready interlocutors of positioned to become ready interlocutors of government policy at the grassroots levelgovernment policy at the grassroots level

Role of Civil Society cont.dRole of Civil Society cont.d

Checking Corruption and Abuse of Power Checking Corruption and Abuse of Power (Whistle Blowing)(Whistle Blowing)

Stimulating and Leading Debates Stimulating and Leading Debates Free Flow of Information: The media is a Free Flow of Information: The media is a

barometer for testing the effect and barometer for testing the effect and efficacy of the reformsefficacy of the reforms

Collaboration in Diagnosis and Feed BackCollaboration in Diagnosis and Feed Back Design and implementation of programs. Design and implementation of programs.

Distinctive in style, symbiotic in intent and Distinctive in style, symbiotic in intent and complementary in objectivecomplementary in objective

Role of Civil Society Cont.dRole of Civil Society Cont.d Monitoring:Monitoring: Government cannot effectively monitor Government cannot effectively monitor

herself. Indeed, I respectfully argue fact herself. Indeed, I respectfully argue fact that the Nigeria is monitoring that the Nigeria is monitoring NEEDS/SEEDs implementation is faulty!NEEDS/SEEDs implementation is faulty!

CSO groups should work with government CSO groups should work with government in collecting designing the criteria while in collecting designing the criteria while the real monitoring should be left with civilthe real monitoring should be left with civil

societysociety Strategic Alliance with the Legislature to Strategic Alliance with the Legislature to

ensure constituency feedback information ensure constituency feedback information sharingsharing

Challenges to Strengthening Challenges to Strengthening the Engagementthe Engagement

Government must increasingly Government must increasingly tolerate dissenting views in a tolerate dissenting views in a democracydemocracy

Collective Effort must be made to Collective Effort must be made to build back capacity on both sides, build back capacity on both sides, data collection, analysis, research and data collection, analysis, research and dissemination of resultsdissemination of results

Constructive Partnership with the Constructive Partnership with the media with emphasis on media with emphasis on independence and objectivityindependence and objectivity

The Road AheadThe Road Ahead

Sustainability of the reforms can only Sustainability of the reforms can only be achieved when the ordinary be achieved when the ordinary citizens feel a true sense of ownership citizens feel a true sense of ownership and are willing campaign to hold and are willing campaign to hold governments accountable to them.governments accountable to them.

This can only happen through This can only happen through revamping the civic infrastructure revamping the civic infrastructure through grassroots mobilization and through grassroots mobilization and social engineering.social engineering.

FinallyFinally

““As democracy spreads around the As democracy spreads around the world the realization is growing that a world the realization is growing that a nation’s political future, its economic nation’s political future, its economic strength and its very identity will be strength and its very identity will be shaped by the creation of a more shaped by the creation of a more transparent partnership with a vibrant transparent partnership with a vibrant civil society”civil society”

J. Brian AtwordJ. Brian Atword

Former Administrator of USAIDFormer Administrator of USAID

Last WordLast Word

As the lifespan of the present As the lifespan of the present administration comes to an end. Our administration comes to an end. Our greatest concern as a nation is to greatest concern as a nation is to evolve creative strategies to insulate evolve creative strategies to insulate the achievements so far recorded the achievements so far recorded from the virus of reversal or the from the virus of reversal or the hypocritical politics of duplication by hypocritical politics of duplication by building alliance with citizens. building alliance with citizens.

This is a time for action, not inactionThis is a time for action, not inaction

I thank you for your I thank you for your kind kind

Attention!Attention!