NIGERIA MOVING FROM REFORM TO PROSPERITY — TINUBU
President Bola Tinubu says his administration is committed to protecting civic space and partnering with Civil Society Organisations as co-creators of national development.
He said Nigeria is now moving from difficult but necessary reforms to shared prosperity.
Tinubu stated this on Friday at the 2026 National Civil Society Organisations Summit held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja.
The President, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, said the summit is a reaffirmation of the social contract between the state and the people.
He described civil society as the conscience of the nation, noting that for 66 years it has given voice to the vulnerable and bridged policy with grassroots realities.
Tinubu commended CSOs for their role in the return to democracy and their pursuit of social justice, poverty eradication, human rights and anti-corruption.
He acknowledged that reforms introduced in 2023 to stabilise the economy caused difficulties, but said progress is now evident.
He said the focus of the Renewed Hope Agenda is to rebuild public trust, strengthen accountability and ensure growth translates into social inclusion.
The President said government alone cannot deliver prosperity and called for multi-stakeholder partnership.
He cited Nigeria’s participation in the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative and the Open Government Partnership as examples of state-civil society collaboration.
To institutionalise the partnership, Tinubu announced four commitments.
He said the SGF has been directed to establish a Quarterly Government-Civil Society Policy Dialogue Forum to ensure community insights inform policy.
He said government will expand civic space for social accountability by working with accredited organisations to enhance budget tracking and monitoring of interventions.
He added that government, in collaboration with the United Nations, development partners and the private sector, will support CSOs to localize the Sustainable Development Goals in poverty reduction, youth and women empowerment, health, education and peacebuilding.
He said government and civil society will jointly foster national cohesion and peace.
On the 2027 general elections, Tinubu charged civil society to remain the vanguard of democracy by educating voters, monitoring polls and ensuring credible elections.
He urged CSOs to counter misinformation, promote interfaith dialogue and champion inclusive governance.
He also urged CSOs to develop a code of conduct to reinforce ethics and public interest.
He listed four points of alignment — food security, poverty eradication through jobs, improved governance and human capital development — as national priorities.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to freedom of expression, association, assembly and press freedom, and urged CSOs to uphold integrity and patriotism.
