CAFSO-WRAG for Development, a humanitarian group, has called for more open and participatory governance in Nigeria.
Dr Tola Winjobi, Principal Coordinator of the group, made the call in a statement on Sunday in Lagos in commemoration of the 2021 International Human Rights Day.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Human Rights Day is observed every year on December 10 and the 2021 theme is “Equality – Reducing inequalities, advancing human rights.
Winjobi said that several groups and associations had been engaging government on the need to make governance more participatory, open and accountable.
He urged government to be more responsive, engage Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in governance and open civil space at all levels of governance to achieve the core Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He said that concrete steps were needed to reverse the trends of shrinking and closing civic spaces so as to protect civil society and democratic accountability.
“We must hold effective, inclusive and transparent consultations with CSOs regarding national development priorities and guarantee meaningful inclusive CSO participation in decision-making and creation of public policies”
“All must be in tandem with the UN Agenda 2030 mantra of “Leave no one behind”; and implement public policies to promote and strengthen CSOs” he said.
Winjobi stressed the need to uphold the rule of law, shun impunity, respect human rights, and uphold all fundamental rights and freedoms.
He also urged the government to do more in stemming the spate of insecurity and poverty in the country.
“The maginalised and vulnerable are so pauperised to the extent that they could not discern their rights let alone to stand for them”
“Thus they are being left behind in development against the mantra of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”
“Real and transformative progress in achieving core SDGs will not be possible without a fully engaged civil society and population.” he said
He said that the main objective of the group was to fight against poverty, hunger and preventable diseases as well as to campaign for the fulfilment of socio-economic and human rights for a sustainable human and ecological development.