President Tinob has directed the minister to hold quarterly public events.
Nigeria News Nalin The Bola Tinubu government has introduced new guidelines for the quarterly stakeholder and citizen engagement meeting, highlighting the federal government’s dedication to transparency, inclusiveness and active citizen participation in governance, the report said.
On March 5, new directives issued by the Central Delivery Coordinator on Wednesday, March 5 under the Office of the Special Adviser for the President’s Policy and Coordination put forward stricter requirements for government departments. These measures are designed to ensure that the conference becomes a meaningful platform for direct public participation, not just formalities.
The CDCU explained that these participating meetings were mandatory delivery for all ministries following the directive of President Bora Tinubu. The President has instructed ministers to regularly communicate government policies, useful programs and initiatives to the public, thereby promoting greater sense of responsibility and openness.
“What this deliverable is to bridge the gap between government and citizens, build good relations between the two parties, promote inclusion and ensure active civic participation,” the statement said.
The Presidential Palace outlines new expectations for quarterly stakeholders and citizens’ participation meetings, highlighting their role in deepening public understanding and maximum misunderstanding of government policies.
According to the revised guidelines, each ministry must hold at least one participation meeting per quarter, with the Minister personally discussing with the Permanent Secretary and other senior officials.
The CDCU stressed that these meetings must go beyond briefings, where as a senior forum, government officials not only convey policies, but also actively collect feedback from stakeholders. It is noted that the investment will be considered for potential policy improvements.
To ensure inclusion, the conference is expected to bring together civil society organizations, professional associations, media and the public. In addition, the CDCU requested the invitation of traditional and digital media to introduce discussions to ensure widespread dissemination of government initiatives.
The Ministry of Information and Ethnic Positioning has played a crucial role in coordinating media participation to maximize outreach.
Furthermore, the CDCU clarified that not all ministerial public events are in line with stakeholder meetings. No conventional media emergence, such as television or radio interviews and policy interpretations, without direct stakeholder interaction, meets these participation requirements.
“The minister who participated in the event and talked about ministry activities without stakeholders,” the statement said.
Likewise, even if recorded, the investor’s familiar visits would not be considered a replacement for these participating conferences.
The CDCU stressed that meetings must be structured, inclusive and interactive to ensure real-time dialogue between government officials and the public. Passive or single-sided interactions will not meet the required criteria.
The department stressed that a key aspect of these meetings was the feedback mechanism. Public comments collected during the meeting must be documented and incorporated into the decision-making process to enhance policy responsiveness.
It wrote: “Concerns raised by stakeholders during and after the meeting must be prepared.”
To maintain transparency, the President’s mandate stipulates that government departments provide verifiable proofs that meet the requirements for participating in the meeting. This includes a copy of the invitation letter sent to stakeholders, attendance records, a copy of the minister’s speech, and a comprehensive report detailing the discussions conducted during the meeting.
In addition, ministries must record specific feedback received from participants and provide evidence on how the opinion affects government decision-making or policy adjustments.
By implementing these new guidelines, the presidency aims to strengthen its commitment to citizen-driven governance, ensuring that government policies are not only spread effectively, but are also influenced by public participation and stakeholder contributions.
