CSOs, others move to hold politicians accountable

Civil society organisations (CSOs) and relevant stakeholders, will on January 17, hold a one-day dialogue to hold politicians accountable to campaign promises. Holding in Abuja, former governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, erstwhile Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, his Lagos counterpart, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and others are to speak at the event.

The programme, preceding this year’s general elections and holding to mark the 12th anniversary of NPO Reports (formerly Nigeria Politics Online), would also have one-time National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Lai Olurode, ex-governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed and Chief Executive Officer of National Women Trust Fund, Mrs. Mufuliat Fijabi, address the audience.

With the theme, 2023 & Beyond: Tracking Campaign Promises for Good Governance, the event, according to a statement signed by Editor-in-Chief of NPO Reports, Semiu Okanlawon, is to ensure that public office seekers and the electorate begin to treat campaign promises as accountability issues for the sake of good governance.

The occasion would equally feature a panel discussion to be moderated by Vice President/Editor-in-Chief of Leadership Newspapers, Azubuike Ishiekwene. Members of the panel include former Executive Secretary of Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI)/Executive Director, Agora Policy, Waziri Adio; Chief Executive Officer, Connected Development, Hamza Lawal; Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi of Baze University, Abuja and Chief Executive Officer of Omalicha Radio/erstwhile Editorial Coordinator at the Organisation of Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC) News, Angela Agoawike.

Expected at the event are representatives of YIAGA Africa; Fix Politics; BudgIT; Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre; Nigerian Women Trust Fund; Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) and Socio-Economic Rights Accountability Project (SERAP), among others.