President Tinubu has directed Ministers to hold quarterly public engagements.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Bola Tinubu administration has introduced fresh guidelines for the quarterly Stakeholder and Citizens Engagement Meetings, emphasizing the Federal Government’s dedication to transparency, inclusivity, and active citizen participation in governance.
The new directives, issued by the Central Delivery Coordination Unit, CDCU, on Wednesday, March 5, under the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, impose stricter requirements on ministries. These measures aim to ensure that the meetings serve as meaningful platforms for direct public engagement rather than mere formalities.
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The CDCU explained that these engagement meetings were established as a mandatory deliverable for all ministries following President Bola Tinubu’s directive. The President had instructed ministers to regularly communicate government policies, beneficial programmes, and initiatives to the public, fostering greater accountability and openness in governance.
“This deliverable is to bridge the gap between the government and citizens, foster a good relationship between both parties, promote inclusivity, and ensure active citizen participation,” the statement read.
The Presidency has outlined new expectations for the quarterly Stakeholder and Citizens Engagement Meetings, emphasizing their role in deepening public understanding of government policies and minimizing misinterpretation.
Under the revised guidelines, each ministry is required to hold at least one engagement session per quarter, with the minister personally leading the discussion alongside the Permanent Secretary and other senior officials.
The CDCU stressed that these meetings must go beyond mere briefings, serving as high-level forums where government officials not only communicate policies but also actively gather feedback from stakeholders. This input, it noted, would be considered for potential policy refinements.
To ensure inclusivity, the meetings are expected to bring together civil society organizations, professional associations, the media, and members of the public. Additionally, the CDCU mandated that both traditional and digital media outlets be invited to cover the discussions, ensuring widespread dissemination of government initiatives.
The Ministry of Information and National Orientation has been assigned a crucial role in coordinating media participation to maximize outreach.
Furthermore, the CDCU clarified that not all ministerial public engagements qualify as stakeholder meetings. Routine media appearances, such as television or radio interviews and policy explanations at events without direct stakeholder interaction, do not fulfill the requirements for these engagement sessions.
“Ministers attending events and speaking about ministry activities without stakeholders’ participation,” the statement read.
Likewise, investor familiarization visits, even if recorded, will not be recognized as a replacement for these engagement meetings.
The CDCU emphasized that the sessions must be structured, inclusive, and interactive, ensuring real-time dialogue between government officials and the public. Passive or one-sided interactions will not meet the required standard.
A key aspect of these meetings, the unit stressed, is the feedback mechanism. Public input gathered during the sessions must be documented and factored into decision-making processes to enhance policy responsiveness.
“Ministers and ministry officials must be prepared to respond to concerns raised by stakeholders both during and after the meetings,” it read.
To uphold transparency, the Presidency has mandated that ministries provide verifiable proof of compliance with the engagement meeting requirements. This includes copies of invitation letters sent to stakeholders, attendance records, a copy of the minister’s presentation, and a comprehensive report detailing the discussions held during the sessions.
Additionally, ministries must document specific feedback received from participants and present evidence of how this input has influenced government decisions or policy adjustments.
By enforcing these new guidelines, the Presidency aims to strengthen its commitment to citizen-driven governance, ensuring that government policies are not only effectively communicated but also shaped by public participation and stakeholder contributions.
