President Bola Tinubu on Friday in Abuja reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting civic space and strengthening partnership with civil society, describing CSOs as co-creators and strategic partners in governance.
Speaking at the National Civil Society Organisations Summit 2026, held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, with the theme:Nigeria First and National Development, the President, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, said civil society has for four decades remained the conscience of the nation, giving voice to the vulnerable and contributing to democratic governance, social justice and anti-corruption.
He noted that the summit, coming after Nigeria’s 66th independence anniversary, is a strategic reaffirmation of the social contract between the State and the people.
The President said his administration’s reforms since 2023, though difficult, have stabilised the economy and moved Nigeria from reform to prosperity under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He stressed that government alone cannot deliver inclusive growth, hence the need for robust multi-stakeholder partnership, as already seen in the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative and Open Government Partnership.
To deepen this, he announced four commitments: directing the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to establish a Quarterly Government-Civil Society Policy Dialogue Forum; expanding civic space for budget tracking and public finance transparency; repositioning CSOs as key drivers for localising the SDGs with support from the UN and private sector; and jointly fostering national cohesion by countering misinformation and promoting interfaith dialogue.
On critical national issues, President Tinubu charged civil society to remain the vanguard of democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections by educating voters, monitoring polls and advocating reforms alongside law enforcement , judiciary and media to ensure credibility.
He also urged CSOs to collectively develop a code of conduct, warning that unethical actions by some actors strain the partnership with government which operates an open-door policy anchored on transparency.
He restated four points of alignment adopted at the Southern Civil Society Summit in Lagos on July 9, 2026 – food security, poverty eradication through jobs and enterprise, improved governance and human capital development – as valid nationwide.
The President commended CSCHEI and the National Leadership of Accredited Civil Society Organisations for convening the inclusive summit, saying its representation reflects the united Nigeria his administration seeks.
He reaffirmed commitment to protecting freedom of expression, association, assembly and press freedom as constitutionally guaranteed rights, and urged CSOs to uphold integrity and mutual accountability, adding that legitimacy must be matched by credibility and advocacy by credible patriotism.