Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has called for closer collaboration between the National Assembly and civil society organisations (CSOs), stressing that effective National Assembly oversight is essential to ensuring that government policies and public spending deliver meaningful benefits to Nigerians. Dogara made the call on Tuesday while speaking at the National Assembly Open Week in Abuja, where he reflected on the country’s democratic journey and the need for stronger accountability mechanisms.
According to him, despite more than 25 years of uninterrupted democratic governance, many Nigerians have yet to experience the full benefits of decisions and policies approved by the legislature. He questioned the disconnect between projects and programmes authorised by the National Assembly and what citizens eventually receive, describing the gap as a major governance concern.
Dogara explained that legislative oversight should extend beyond constitutional obligations and function as a practical tool for exposing corruption, inefficiency and poor governance across public institutions. He maintained that robust oversight remains critical to promoting transparency, accountability and prudent management of public resources.
The former Speaker also commended the leadership of the House of Representatives under Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu for introducing the National Assembly Open Week initiative, describing it as a bold step toward strengthening public participation in the legislative process.
He said the programme provides lawmakers with an important platform to engage directly with civil society organisations, the media and members of the public. Dogara warned that oversight would lose its relevance if treated merely as a ceremonial constitutional exercise rather than an instrument for protecting the interests of Nigerians.
He urged lawmakers to view civil society organisations as strategic partners in democratic governance, noting that they often possess valuable grassroots information capable of improving legislative oversight. According to him, CSOs effectively serve as the “eyes and ears” of the legislature by monitoring government projects, identifying implementation gaps and providing credible evidence that can support parliamentary action.
Recalling his time as Speaker, Dogara said he supported the participation of civil society monitors during budget defence sessions despite resistance from some lawmakers. He argued that institutions unwilling to embrace public scrutiny ultimately weaken public confidence in governance.
The former Speaker identified the persistent gap between budget approvals and project execution as one of Nigeria’s most significant governance challenges, attributing the problem to weak accountability rather than a lack of development. To address the issue, he urged the National Assembly to devote the same level of commitment to monitoring budget implementation as it does to passing appropriation bills.
Dogara also encouraged the executive arm of government to strengthen transparency and cooperate constructively with legislative oversight institutions. He further advised civil society organisations to support lawmakers by presenting verified information and credible evidence capable of guiding effective legislative interventions.
Calling for long-term reforms, Dogara urged the National Assembly to institutionalise its collaboration with civil society organisations beyond annual engagements, insisting that sustained partnerships would strengthen accountability, improve oversight and deepen Nigeria’s democratic governance.
He concluded that democracy flourishes when public institutions embrace transparency, accountability and constructive scrutiny, urging lawmakers, parliamentary officials and civil society groups to work together to ensure government programmes and policies produce measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
