Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has raised concerns over the widening gap between government budget approvals and the actual delivery of projects and services to Nigerians, calling for stronger collaboration between the National Assembly and civil society organisations (CSOs) to improve accountability.
Dogara, who spoke on Tuesday at the National Assembly Open Week in Abuja, said effective oversight should go beyond committee inspections and official reports, stressing that lawmakers must ensure that public funds are properly utilised and government programmes achieve their intended objectives.
He lamented that despite 25 years of uninterrupted democratic governance and huge financial allocations approved through successive budgets, many Nigerians are yet to feel the impact of democracy in their daily lives.
According to him, the major challenge facing the country is not only the availability of resources but the failure to adequately monitor and enforce the implementation of approved projects and policies.
“The essence of oversight is to ensure that every kobo appropriated by the National Assembly is spent for the purpose for which it was approved and that Nigerians receive value for public funds,” Dogara said.
The former Speaker said legislative oversight must serve as a tool for identifying corruption, waste, inefficiency and poor implementation of government programmes rather than being treated as a routine constitutional responsibility.
He urged lawmakers to place greater emphasis on tracking budget implementation, noting that the work of the legislature should not end with the passage of appropriation bills.
Dogara also called for deeper involvement of civil society organisations in parliamentary oversight, describing them as important partners with access to grassroots information, technical knowledge and evidence that can help lawmakers make informed decisions.
He said CSOs play a vital role in monitoring constituency projects, following public expenditure and highlighting areas where government interventions fail to achieve their objectives.
“Civil society organisations are the eyes and ears of the legislature. They provide information and evidence that can strengthen oversight and improve service delivery,” he said.
Reflecting on his tenure as Speaker, Dogara said he encouraged the participation of civil society groups during budget defence sessions despite resistance from some lawmakers who were uncomfortable with increased public scrutiny.
He argued that institutions that reject transparency risk losing the confidence of citizens and weakening democratic values.
The former Speaker commended the current leadership of the House of Representatives under Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu for creating the National Assembly Open Week, describing it as an opportunity for citizens, lawmakers and stakeholders to engage on issues affecting governance.
He, however, stressed that such engagements should extend beyond annual events, urging the National Assembly to establish a permanent framework for collaboration with civil society groups.
Dogara also called on the executive arm of government to support effective oversight by providing timely information and cooperating with legislative scrutiny.
He urged CSOs to complement parliamentary oversight with credible data, verified reports and constructive recommendations capable of influencing policies and improving accountability.
The former Speaker maintained that democracy can only deliver meaningful benefits to citizens when public institutions embrace openness, accountability and continuous engagement with the people they represent. Authority.
