Tinubu Directs SGF to Institutionalise Citizens’ Participation in Policy Formulation, Implementation and Evaluation.
Enugu Media Village (EMV), the Most Updated Online News Platform — October 3, 2026
The Federal Government has announced plans to establish a Quarterly Government–Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Policy Dialogue Forum as part of efforts to strengthen citizens’ participation in governance and ensure that grassroots concerns are reflected in government policies.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, disclosed this on Friday at the 2026 National Civil Society Organisation Summit in Abuja.
According to the President, the proposed forum will provide a structured platform for evidence-based advocacy, enabling community-level perspectives and concerns to contribute to the formulation, implementation and evaluation of government policies and programmes.
Tinubu also announced plans to deepen collaboration with accredited CSOs in areas including public finance transparency, budget tracking and monitoring of humanitarian and grassroots development interventions.
He said the Federal Government would also work with civil society organisations, the United Nations system, development partners and the private sector to strengthen CSOs’ capacity and institutional sustainability, particularly in areas such as poverty reduction, youth and women empowerment, healthcare, education, climate resilience and peacebuilding.
The President further urged civil society organisations to contribute to national cohesion by promoting responsible civic engagement, countering misinformation, supporting interfaith dialogue and advocating inclusive governance.
On the 2027 general elections, Tinubu called on CSOs to play active roles in voter education, election monitoring and advocacy for electoral reforms, stressing that credible elections require cooperation among civil society, electoral institutions, security agencies, the judiciary, the media and citizens.
At the summit, civil society leaders also called for stronger mechanisms through which grassroots intelligence, community concerns and early-warning information could feed into government policy and budget decisions.
The National Convener of the summit, Ambassador Kunle Yusuff, said CSOs possess extensive grassroots information that could assist government in identifying emerging challenges and designing more responsive interventions. He advocated a sustainable partnership involving government, civil society and the private sector in addressing national priorities.
The proposed quarterly dialogue therefore represents a planned institutional channel for regular engagement between government and civil society on policies, public accountability and community development.
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