N’assembly will reopen CSO liaison office to strengthen democracy, says Victor Umeh

Victor Umeh, chairman of the senate committee on diaspora, said the legislature has to strengthen the civil society space for a better nation. 

Umeh said this at a workshop held for the senate, and the house of representatives committee on civil societies and development matters, on March 15 in Lagos.

He added that the national assembly is ready to reopen the civil society organisations (CSO) liaison office for deeper collaboration.

“We need to strengthen (CSOs) operating space, their liberty and freedom to be able to perform their roles for the benefit of the country,” he said.

“We in the national assembly are very much aware that there is no way we can have or drive effective development in this country without allowing the civil society organisations to be on their beat, and they become the gadfly that would keep the government constantly on their toes.

“This is the only way the country can get better.

“Aware of this need, the national assembly under the leadership of the present senate president, Godswill Akpabio, will be reopening the civil society organisations liaison office in the national assembly.”

He said the centre would be a data bank for lawmakers to tap into happenings in the country.

Umeh added that takeaways from the workshop would provide legislators with a direction on how to utilise the activities of CSOs in making progressive laws and interventions that would help correct the ills of society.

In her remarks, Funmi Akinyele, chairperson of Safeguarding Online Civic Space (SOCS), said CSOs Accountability and Transparency Initiative (CATI) will focus on establishing potential nodes of collaboration with the national assembly.