President Bola Tinubu has directed that quarterly policy dialogues be held between the Federal Government and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to strengthen collaboration, improve transparency, and ensure citizen participation in governance.
The announcement was made on October 2, 2026, as part of efforts to institutionalise regular engagement between government agencies and civil society groups.
According to the directive, the dialogues will:
Enhance transparency in government programmes.
Strengthen accountability by involving CSOs in monitoring policies.Improve citizen engagement through structured participation.
Ensure effective policymaking by aligning government initiatives with public needs.
The dialogues will be held every three months.
Participants will include federal ministries, agencies, and CSO representatives nationwide.
Outcomes of each session will be documented and shared publicly to promote openness.
The directive comes as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, with governance performance under close public scrutiny.
Tinubu’s administration has faced criticism over economic hardship following subsidy removal, and the dialogues are seen as a way to rebuild trust and demonstrate inclusiveness.
A platform to showcase reforms and gather feedback.
For CSOs: An opportunity to influence policy direction and hold leaders accountable.
For Citizens: Potential for more responsive governance and improved service delivery.This rewrite frames the directive as both a governance reform and a political strategy.