The Coalition made the call in a statement issued in Abakaliki at the end of its quarterly General meeting, stressing the need for government institutions, political parties, security agencies, media organisations, civil society groups and citizens to uphold democratic values and protect the rights of all stakeholders.
The group in the meeting presided by the Co-chairs; Chief Mrs. Ugo Nnachi and Dr. Kelechi Okezie acknowledged ongoing efforts by the Ebonyi State Government to promote citizen engagement and make budget and financial information available to the public, but urged authorities to strengthen mechanisms through which citizens can participate in governance and scrutinise public expenditure. They emphasized the need for quality projects, properly supervised and delivered based on citizens priority needs.
According to the Coalition, “accountability should not be regarded as opposition to government,” stressing that constructive scrutiny and citizen feedback remain essential components of democratic governance.
It called for regular publication of budgets, budget implementation reports, procurement information and audited financial statements, as well as stronger mechanisms for monitoring public projects at both state and local government levels.
On the civic space, the CSOs urged authorities to ensure that citizens, journalists, community organisations, youth and women groups, professional associations and political actors can exercise their lawful rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. They also emphasised on the need for CSOs to be properly registered and that members ensure that they are regulatory compliant through self regulations.
The Coalition also expressed concern over reports of alleged attacks, harassment and disruption of political activities involving opposition supporters and journalists, and called for proper investigation of any such allegations by the appropriate authorities.
It urged security agencies to protect the safety and rights of citizens irrespective of their political affiliations.
To further strengthened civic space and engagements in the State, the coalition unveiled plan to host it's annual CSOs week in November and called on their members, government authorities and stakeholders to participate in the summit, which promises to be educative, inclusive and thought provoking.
On the 2027 elections, the Coalition appealed to political parties and their supporters to conduct their activities peacefully and avoid inflammatory rhetoric, threats, intimidation, violence, misinformation and disinformation. It also called for issue-based political campaigns and respect for journalists covering political activities.
The group urged electoral institutions to maintain professionalism, transparency and effective communication with stakeholders, while using lessons from previous electoral processes to improve voter education, accessibility, stakeholder consultation and complaint-resolution mechanisms.
The Coalition further called for stronger protection of journalists, noting that the media remains an important institution in a democratic society. It, however, urged journalists and media organisations to uphold professional standards, verify information and avoid reports capable of inflaming communal or political tensions.
The CSOs proposed the establishment or strengthening of a regular Government-CSO Consultative Forum to facilitate constructive engagement on issues including education, healthcare, youth development, women's empowerment, human rights, peace and security, infrastructure, local government administration and social protection.
The Coalition also called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth and women leaders, professional associations, political parties and security agencies to support peaceful political participation and social cohesion. It stressed that political disagreements are normal in a democracy, but violence, intimidation and threats should not be allowed to replace democratic debate.
The Coalition said it would continue to engage government institutions constructively, commend positive developments, identify gaps and make evidence-based recommendations in the interest of the people of Ebonyi State.
It added that the strength of democracy in the state would depend not only on political parties and government institutions but also on the ability of citizens to participate freely, peacefully and meaningfully in public affairs.
The quarterly meeting which was well attended by over forty members of the coalition featured interactive session, review of the coalition activities and the adoption of the amended constitution of the coalition.
Post a Comment