NATIONAL DEMOCRACY STAKEHOLDERS GROUP BACKGROUND By its very definition as a government of the people, for the people and by the people, democracy places on the citizen of a State the demand not only to determine who governs them, but also how they are governed. This requires that though the people may not directly take the decisions, they should however understand the arguments, the counter arguments and the considerations on which the final decision are reached. In other words, the role of the people in a democracy does not end with voting their leaders, but rather begins with it. Though the necessity of the post electoral role of the people is itself self-evident, it is rather argued that Government under democracy is a trust held on behalf of the people and therefore such a trust should be liberal enough to give government a free hand. But the problem with this is that though democracy as an ideal is perfect, the people who manage the process are not. It is this knowledge that led to the evolution of constitutional democracy, which create an internal check and balance within it three arms – the executive, legislative and judiciary. While this balance is essential for good governance, unfortunately, it is not sufficient. This is what gave rise to estates like the civil society and the media as the watch-dog of democracy. The argument follows that if government is truly owned by the people, then every democracy must find a way to report to the people. While reporting to the people ought to be the key objects of representative democracy, this system itself by creating politicians, makes itself a suspect in the eyes of the people. Therefore institutionalizing the role of the citizens in democracy, for whom and by whom government is constituted, remains the surest way to balancing the inherent politics of marginal interest which is associated with the privilege of power amongst those elected to represent the people. It is therefore the need to institutionalize public ownership of government that gave rise to the idea of National Democratic Stakeholders Group. The forum which is the outcome of the first National Democracy Stakeholders Summit in 2010 is designed to create an inclusive non-political platform by which the people can truly participate and become visible in the process of governance. HISTORY After a bumpy political history of coups and counter-coups, the forth republic was finally born on May 29th, 1999. Ten years after, precisely May 29th, 2009, the country was set to mark an unprecedented decade of uninterrupted democracy. While the period may not have been free of the same base issues that triggered military interventions in the past, the reactions this time around, were fundamentally different. This is indicative of the coming of age of our institutions. Moreso, it signaled a certain resolution amongst Nigerians to finally give democracy a chance to bud. As the country marked the decade of uninterrupted democracy, a group of concerned Nigerians led by Da Soul II, the chief technical consultant to the process were meeting together to fashion out ways to harness the lessons of the out-going decade. The concept was to celebrate the decade of uninterrupted democracy by engaging in series of planned, phased and measurable activities designed to enable all classes of Nigerians, to take part in the celebration and as well work together to create a sustainable future for our democracy. The coalition which comprised of different shades of Nigerians representing different organizations, interests and ideological groups, came together under the appellation of National Democracy Stakeholders Group. Working hand in hand with Da Soul II, the coalition courted and received the official endorsement of the Federal Ministry of Information and the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) for its phased series of earmarked programs. Event Deliverables The event activities include the following: • National Democracy Solidarity Walk: The walk which was scheduled for May 29th, 2009, was designed to rally Nigerians in support of democracy. 10, 000 Nigerians were mobilized for the March. The walk was later adopted as an annual feature of the May 29th, Democracy Day event. • The Nigerian of My Dream Essay: The Essay competition was schedule for June 27th, 2009. It was put together for children of secondary school age. The idea was to gauge the views of children, while also engaging them in planning the future of the country. Phase Two: • A National Democracy Stakeholders Summit: Though the First National Democracy Stakeholders Summit was initially planned for 2009, the event finally held on 30th and 31st of March, 2010 at the International Conference Center Abuja. The event brought together the respective interests and stakeholders in our democracy to discuss the critical matters arising from the past 10 years of democracy in the country with the view of designing a framework for the future. Amongst the key persons at the event was the Senate President, Distinguished Senator David Mark. A strategic outcome of the event was the official adoption of a resolution by the various stakeholders for the establishment of the National Democracy Stakeholders Group. It was also agreed that the event will be held as an annual program. • Democrats Award Dinner: The democrat Award Dinner was held on the 31st of March 2010 at the International Conference Center. It came up as the closing event of the National Democracy Stakeholders Summit, which held in the same venue. Award was given to credible and distinguished democratic actors within the decade in view. Amongst notable recipient of the award was the immediate past President of the Country at the time, His Excellency, Gen (rtd) Olusegun Obasanjo. • Diary of a Decade: In order to document the critical lessons of our first uninterrupted decade of democracy for future reference and planning, the group led by its technical consultant, Da Soul II, embarked on the laudable initiative to research and publish a national hand book, Diary of a Decade. The book detailed the gamut of news activities that defined the first decade of our democracy. The idea is to help the public understand the issues and how they were influenced and subsequently influenced our democratic culture as a people. While all the above were achieved with high commendation and praise, the most resounding remained the National Democracy Stakeholders Summit of 30th & 31st March 2010 held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. Outcome of the 1st National Democracy Stakeholders Summit 30th & 31st March, 2010, at the international Conference Centre Abuja – Nigeria The 1st National Democracy Stakeholders Summit opened in Abuja on 30th March 2010 with the Theme: The 1st Decade of uninterrupted Civil Rule in Nigeria – Assessment, Challenges and Prospects. Over 500 participants, representing various interest groups, organizations, civil societies, religious groups, government and government agencies, development partners where represented. The registration opened as early as 9:00 am. The international Conference Center, the venue of the event, is ranked the choicest event venue in Nigeria. The facility has paid host to world class events, including AU and UN conferences. The registration has hardly opened when dignitaries from all sectors of the polity began to find their way into the facility, which was well decorated to heighten the moment and experience. Greeters and ushers were positioned both within and outside the hall to receive and direct guests to their reserved seats. In line with the program schedule, by 10am, the event was already in earnest. Different speakers and sector leaders who have afore received notifications for the event, came up as directed by the Master of Ceremony to make their presentations. The expediency of the subjects, the profile of the different speakers and the way the issue were presented, contributed to enthrall the audience. For two hours, which marked the opening event, applaud after applaud seized the atmosphere, indicated public delight and satisfaction. The high moment was the address by the Senate President, David Mark. His speech which was presented on his behalf, helped to put the role of the legislature in the past 10 years of our democracy in proper retrospect and perspective. The Senate President commended the role of non – partisan bodies and other sundry interests and stakeholders in democracy and challenged the organizers to forge the means by which the outcome of the Summit may be communicated for the good of democracy in Nigeria. Beyond commending the concept of the event, the Senate President signaled his commitments to the idea of the National Democracy Stakeholders Group. After the opening, the summit went on a tea break. By the time the participants returned, the atmosphere was already set for the plenary session of the event. As expected, the discus in the opening ceremony had set the tone for the plenary. After the respective presentations, reactions and contributions in the different plenary sessions moderated by constituted panels, the Summit wound down along the following lines: SUMMIT OBSERVATION I. The current democratic experience is the first time Nigeria has witnessed ten years of uninterrupted democracy in all fifty years as an independent nation. II. The inauguration of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, GCFR on 20 May 2007 was the first successful civilian to civilian transfer of political power in Nigeria III. The electoral system in the past ten years has precipitated some major challenges that the Electoral Reforms initiated by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, GCFR rightly attempt to holistically address IV. The events of the ill- health of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua GCFR were a demonstration of the maturing trend of politics and public governance in Nigeria. This was evidenced by the strict adherence to only constitutional provisions by all interests and stakeholders – a distinct departure from past eras when usurpation of power by other means could have been more attractive. V. The Judiciary, Law Enforcement, Civil Societies, etc have all played their various important roles in stabilizing Nigeria’s democracy by their various bold stances, pronouncements and actions that indicate their progressive growth in independence and efficiency one way or the other. VI. Specifically, the Nigerian Media has played a pivotal role in the sustenance of democracy and in preventing the ascendancy of despotism. However, the ownership system of the media in Nigeria has raised apprehensions that the media may become more partisan in situations where the national interests ought to be uppermost in the minds of media practitioners VII. The Summit noted also that the individual behaviors of Politicians raise the core concerns of what should constitute the ethics for public offices and the need for the re-orientation of politicians, particularly because of the increasing menace of corruption threatening the stability of the polity. Summit COMMUNIQUÉ: First National Democracy stakeholders’ Summit 30th & 31st March 2010 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja 1. The Summit re-affirmed the facts of the peaceful, united, prosperous country, Nigeria is and of her sovereignty as well as the inalienable rights of all her citizens. 2. The Summit appreciated that the occasion of the first ever decade of civil rule in Nigeria was no mean achievement worthy of celebrating in the most befitting ways. 3. The Summit further affirmed that the problems associated with elections and electioneering in Nigeria are at the roots of the problems of political organization, democracy and good governance: therefore reforms need be accorded all the seriousness they deserve so as to achieve electoral credibility for Nigeria. 4. The Summit admitted that it would be foolhardy- amounting to gross error, if all the weaknesses in the Nigerian Electoral System are blamed on INEC alone. The Summit resolved that certain internal, individual and group dispositions, bearings and posturing within public, political, professional and other cycles stymie the credibility of Nigeria’s Electoral processes. Thus the attributing of Electoral problems to the persona of the INEC Chairman or to the bearing of any other individual official or department of the Commission is untenable, lame and deplorable. 5. The Summit reasoned that the long history of military dominance of Nigeria’s political life has challenged the current political leaders with the demand for adjustments in their dispositions from militant to greater civilities! The militaristic dispositions of many a political office holder is really responsible for most of the strife and the varied crises in especially the last decade. 6. While the Summit supports and encourages the Amnesty Deal struck in the Niger Delta with the militants, the Summit supports more Government commitment in resolving the human and environmental concerns in the Niger Delta. 7. The Summit also determined that the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria needs necessarily address the questions of gender equality and gender mainstreaming as these are salient indicators of the growth of democracy as well as good and responsible governance. The Summit therefore commended the government to greater affirmation of gender issues in Nigeria. 8. The Summit also commended the ongoing Constitutional Review by the Nigeria Legislature underscoring it as a veritable sign of the maturation process when Laws need necessarily be adjusted to make them more applicable to current affairs and the emerging or evolving national culture. 9. The Summit deplored the poor level of attention the development of Nigerian Youths receives from the Government in the current dispensation. The Summit attributed this poor trend to the ineffective understanding within government of the terms by which modern Cultural Management and Administration obtain. The Summit also pointed to the failings of the Education sector, of Medical services, of Manufacturing and other generic job creation and potentials, etc as causes for concern. Furthermore, the Summit also particularly deplored the ways political parties pay so very little attention to making membership and positioning prospects within their ranks attractive to Youths! The Summit demands that if one might vote, the one should be eligible to be voted for automatically. 10. The Summit saluted the role of the Nigerian Military in civil rule in Nigeria. The Summit challenged the Military to continue to advance in their capacities to secure and ensure the territorial integrity of Nigeria and to consistently show good judgment in resolving the situation of the President’s ill-health and the ascendancy of the Vice President to Acting President. 11. The Summit commended the National Legislature to pass the freedom of Information (FOI) Bill without further delay. Such Laws emphasize the true maturity of many democracies in the world. 12. The Summit further required the fast-tracking of every possible means by which the true independence and greater efficiency of the Nigerian Judiciary may be achieved. This, the Summit realized, is strategic to the future greater growth and development of Democracy in Nigeria and of Nigeria as a nation. 13. The Summit advised caution in the establishment of Media organizations and their ownership. The Summit also reviewed the condition of work of practitioners in the outgoing decade so that the media may never fail to defend democracy. The Summit was emphatic on the need the media has, to more readily defend democracy at all times. 14. The Summit introspectively commended the motives and the methodology of convening the gathering. In doing so, the Summit reviewed the proposal of inaugurating the National Democracy Stakeholders Group with DA SOUL II GROUP, the current technical organizers of the Summit as the Group’s Chief Technical Consultants as proposed. To this end, the Summit recommends the immediate setting up of the National Democracy Stakeholders Group to be composed of eminent National Patriots, Youth Leaders, Statesmen and the applicable Civil society Representatives. The group is to take responsibility for the annual organization of National Democracy Stakeholders’ Summit and coordinate other public discuss that will contribute to the promotion of democratic culture in Nigeria. 15. Finally, the Summit commended the government to the needs for the reform of all the sectors within the societies and others that she has earmarked or already embarked upon. The Summit notes that these were indeed worthwhile. As Government pursues these reforms and other expedient developmental exigencies, Government must be made aware that her efforts as they currently stand, though well received are still nowhere within sight of the expectations of the generality of the Nigerian public. Conclusion of the 1st Summit In conclusion, the Summit commended the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for all the support and encouragement given the organizers and the participants in the Summit. The Summit challenged the Federal Government to match her good intentions with the right levels of ensuing actions. This the Government may do by ensuring the speedy processing of the above resolutions and other outcomes within the shortest possible time. This commendation is also with regards to making the Summit an annual opportunity rather than wait for the attainment of another decade of civil rule. The National Democracy Stakeholders Group: A strategic outcome of the 1st Democracy Stakeholders Summit. National Democracy Stakeholders Group, NDSG was created by the resolution of the 1st Democracy Stakeholders Summit held on 30th and 31st March 2010 at the International Conference Center, ICC. The resolution agreed that the group will be created as a platform for organizing the annual National Democracy Stakeholders Summit. Aside this, the group is also necessary to provide a sustainable institutional system for mainstreaming citizen participation in the democratic process, the intent being to deepen and enrich our democratic culture. Operational Structure: The Group is operationally structured on a tripodal design 1. Board Steering Board made up of eminent democrats; 2. Operational Secretariat, being the administrative hub for the group 3. Membership Based-parliament composed of Institutions, Groups, Individuals and the External Structure The Advisory Board, National Patrons and the life Petron form a Critical part of the External Structural of the NDSG. Detailed Operational Structure National Steering Board: made up of eminent democrat who oversees the entire affairs of the Group Operational Secretariat: Run the daily operations and activities of NDSG. The secretariat shall work with the Chief Technical Consultant- Dasoul II Group to implement the goals and targets of the organization. Parliament Parliament is a membership based pool drawn from different sectorial stakeholders. It is open to members of the public, professionals and groups who are interested in identifying with and promoting the ideals of the NDSG. The categories of stakeholders include Corporate Representation Group Representation Individual Representation Functions • Public Education: - ...the promotion of Leadership education and nation building ethics in all the ways that support democracy and the progressive participation of the relevant social components thereof. • Technical Collaborations: ... the capable association and other engagements with relevant institutions of democratic growth in ways that strengthen Nigeria’s democracy culturally and otherwise • Administration of Institutional Capacity: - ... the further precipitation of various internal instruments of support and assistance to aid the advancement of democracy within especially the pluralism of the Nigerian society. Vision The building of democratic values, practices and Institutions that may rank amongst the best in the world Mission An engagement in the democratic process to facilitate internal and external capacity building for stability, dependability and sustainable good governance in Nigeria Objective Plan, manage and implement the annual National Democracy Stakeholders Summit; Democrat Award; and Nigeria Democracy/Leadership Report. Brainstorm, deepen and disseminate the resources derived from the annual National Democracy stakeholders’ summit to relevant sector stakeholders and policy makers. Engage and consult with policy makers to ensure best democratic practices and values Engage in the promotion and communication of democratic values and public electoral education GOALS Own and operate the African Legislative Institute (ALI) Form the African Democracy Stakeholders Group Legality The Group is domiciled foundation and Trade Mark of MMASS, a Pan African Global Charity, registered in Nigeria with the Corporate Affairs Commission under the Company and Allied Matter Act (CAMA) as a Company Limited by Guarantee NDSG COMMISSIONS. The NDSG Information and Communication Commission: In charge of all discharge of information dissemination through the various media platforms to and for Nigerians: the image-maker of the group. It also handles information and communication initiative as relates to our democracy and its deliverables per time The NDSG Economic Commission: Saddled with the major task of interpreting Government Economic Policies and presenting the profitable opportunities therein to the Nigerian populace. The NDSG Lobby Commission: Engages in the procedures of advocating for the implementation of the various summit outcomes and resolutions. The NDSG Youth Commission: In charge of all Youth oriented democratic projects. The NDSG Women Affairs Commission: In charge of all women oriented democratic projects The NDSG Defense and Security Commission: in charge of security issues relates to people and the State The NDSG Commission for Monetary and Evaluation: sees to the effective implementations of state project as it relate to all stakeholders, the commission is also position to be a feedback mechanism as it interface between the state and the people. NDSG Political Institution Development Commission: it strategically drives modules of capacity building for political institutions for Development NDSG Commission for Foreign Affairs – develop foreign policy frame and build capacity for diplomatic institution NDSG Commission for Inter – Governmental Affairs – relates and interface on federal, state and local government Issues EPILOGUE The first, lasting and most enduring characteristic of democracy is the cover of able and capable participation in all the processes of governance it affords EVERY member of the society. This is one of the reasons why democracy remains the world’s best option for public governance. The motions of achieving the National Democracy Stakeholders Group, NDSG, are indicative of Nigeria’s clear and quite decisive advance in her growth and development as a nation. Nigeria’s regional and continental leadership in Africa will be further underscored by the vibrancy that the envisaged NDSG brings to her. Other wide ranging benefits are also impending on this development. Thank you.
Posted on: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 19:49:58 +0000
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