CSOs Raise Alarm On Shrinking Civic Space

By Zakaa Lazarus

Civil Society Organization under the auspices of Global Right, has accused the Federal government for contributing to the shrink of civic space in Nigeria.

The Executive Director, Global Right, Mrs Abiodun Boiyewu,while addressing journalists at the launch of the shrinking civic space report said, the report has become necessary to ensure that Nigerian civic space remains vibrant and resilient.

“There has been a lot shrinks in the civic space, the big question is how do we get out of that and so that prompted this research,” she said.

According to her, “the report is about the civic space and the government incautious about the civic space, and how government has use laws to disorganize the civic space, and how we lost the power to organize and associate as well how we have lost our civic space in Nigeria and that is some of the issues we have gathered to discuss.

“First of all we lay the basis of what has happened and to make recommendations on how we can step out of that, and to build a more vibrant, and more participatory governance culture in Nigeria.

The Global right boss however highlights some of the recommendations which includes, stoppage on government cautions, and a need to massively educate citizens of what their rights are and how best they can protect these spaces.

“We also recommended that citizens must organise themselves and also a need for solidarity”

“Aside the media, we will begin to disseminate in formations in languages where Nigerians can easily digest it, and on platforms were they can evolve dialogues on what to do.

On accountability she said Nigerians citizens should not stop demanding and that is how societies are build.