Transcript 4 - Ojobo Atuluku

Working together for accountable
government:
Nigerian CSOs and
parliaments
Workshop at the CIVICUS World Assembly, 2006, Glasgow
Ojobo Atuluku
ActionAid International Nigeria
www.actionaid.org/nigeria
Major Engagement with
Parliaments
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National Political Reform Conference 2005
Annual Global Week of Action and other
education Issues
Freedom of Information Bill
Parliamentary Liaison
HIV/AIDS
Anti- Poverty Issues (national Conference
on Poverty Eradication) 2006
etc
ActionAid International Nigeria
www.actionaid.org/nigeria
Political context
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A bicameral legislature (Senate and House of Representatives jointly known as the
National Assembly) at the national level and a unicameral one (State House of
Assembly) at the State level:
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Democratic government has been in place in Nigeria for the past five years.
For more than two decades Nigeria has been having political, religious and ethnic conflicts, thus, the persistent
insecurity of lives and property.
Challenge of free and fair election; Godfatherism in politics
Lack of opposition party, too many parties (over 30), ruling party is tantamount to the government
The Nigerian poor and marginalized do not have the ability to demand accountability from the elected leaders,
(nor the notion that it is their right take an active part in running their own affairs).
Corruption is rampant, (has become endemic) and has persisted at Federal, State and Local Government
levels.
Lack of participation in Constitution making and Constitutionalism and other processes
The present government has improved consultation with civil society (but the process is still highly selective and
shrouded in secrecy).
The process of policy formulation remains top-down – limiting people participation.
The practice of the (observance of ) rule of law is weak and selective.
The absence of Freedom of Public Information Act, a Fiscal Responsibility or Budgetary legislation
The presence of an Official secrets Law
Impact on the scope for CSOs and the National Assembly to work together means that
CSOs have to strategically woo the legislators and convince them to give them a
hearing
An accountable Government is a new process in which even the Parliaments have to
fight for space within which to hold the executive to account. However, not even
Parliament has an open and transparent process. In short, there is no accountability to
the public.
ActionAid International Nigeria
www.actionaid.org/nigeria
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Actors
The State of civil society varies across the country with some states
have a proliferation of rights conscious organisations and yet others
none at all. Generally CSO are nascent, weak, lack finances and
institutional capacity.
Parliament has been involved in a struggle for relevance with the
executive. While it passes laws, the norm is for laws to be flaunted
even when they have been specific judgements of courts of superior
records in the land. This gave rise to a recent strike action by the
well respected Nigerian Bar Association.
Parliament has oversight functions over Executive ministries,
departments and agencies and periodically do summon public
officials to make explanations. Parliament also has approval over
ministerial appointments.
Parliament has been very supportive in the Freedom of Information
bill processes and other processes to enhance accountability. Its
latest success and redeeming act in the eyes of many Nigerians is
the Parliamentary stance on the Constitutional amendment for
presidential tenure elongation which it threw out. On the flip side
though is the fact that other very cogent recommendations of the
committee were also thrown out.
ActionAid International Nigeria
www.actionaid.org/nigeria
Incentives and
disincentives
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As CSO engagement with the National and State
Assemblies deepen into issues based relationships,
incentives are beginning to override disincentives:
Incentives:
- Ability to better meet the needs of the citizenry
- Recognition that one good legislation can achieve a
decade of CSO advocacy for change
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Disincentives:
- Godfatherism in Nigerian politics means that a politician
may have sold his or her independence to a financer or
party power-broker in order to win an election.
- Intra-Party mechanisms
ActionAid International Nigeria
www.actionaid.org/nigeria
Opportunities and
barriers
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Opportunities:
– Public Finance issues including budgetary and fiscal issues
– More qualified people in the Parliaments
– Same targets (MDGs, Anti-Poverty agenda, a better life for
constituents)
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Barriers:
– Ignorance and lack of enlightenment e.g. a bill for an Institute for
Reproductive Health thrown out as wanting to legalise abortion
even though there was nothing in it on abortion
– Inadequate funding on CSO part and untimely release of funds
on Parliament’ side.
– Parliamentarians’ Time (they are extremely busy with different
pulls on their time especially at certain times of their calendar)
ActionAid International Nigeria
www.actionaid.org/nigeria
Mechanisms for more
accountable working
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The National Assembly has established processes through
which both sectors can engage:
– The committee working style of the Assembles mean that there
can be specialised and focused interactions.
– CSOs can bring in expertise to help the Assemblies to make
better analysis and take better decisions.
– The establishment of a Parliamentary Liaison by ActionAid has
meant that CSOs can gain insider information and be more
proactive about engagement opportunities
– CSO activities like the publication of a NASS Watch by ActionAid
and the TV programme by New Age media on the National
Assembly are a couple of examples.
– The Public Hearing format sometimes planned jointly by the
Assembly Committees and CSOs are also key.
– Involving Parliamentarians in CSO activities broadens their
horizons
ActionAid International Nigeria
www.actionaid.org/nigeria
Issues
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Public Finance
Fiscal responsibility
Constitutional Reform
Education
HIV/AIDS
Internally displaced persons
Etc. CSOs engage in almost all issues
ActionAid International Nigeria
www.actionaid.org/nigeria
Outcomes
of Joint working for
accountability
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Positive results
– Mutual respect resulting in space for civil society
and interest in their perspectives
– Self-consciousness amongst parliamentarians
that their constituents are watching and have
become aware of their right of recall over them
– Sensitivity to public accountability
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Negative results
– There is a real danger of cooption for CSOs
ActionAid International Nigeria
www.actionaid.org/nigeria
Lessons
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A major constraint for collaborative and supportive work
for CSOs and Parliaments is the lack of understanding
and the mutual distrust that both perceive and approach
each other with.
An understanding of the strengths of each and the
opportunities open for working and achieving together
are limitless especially in terms of accountability issues
In terms of money, it is very cheap to engage
parliamentarians and the results are far reaching
It is long term, patient work and any inconclusive piece
of work cannot translate across a newly elected
parliament.
ActionAid International Nigeria
www.actionaid.org/nigeria