The Federal Government has said again that it is committed to strengthening democratic governance through strategic partnerships. They say this is a key way to achieve national development and inclusive economic growth.
George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said this on Thursday in Abuja at the National Convening and Report Launch for “Strengthening the Nexus between Democracy and Economic Development in Nigeria.”
Chris Ugwuegbulam, the Head of Information and Public Relations, said in a statement that the SGF is still open to working with important groups in a constructive and evidence-based way to improve democratic governance across the country.
Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, the Permanent Secretary of the General Services Office, spoke for Akume at the event. He said that working with the National Assembly, sub-national governments, the private sector, civil society organizations, and development partners is still the most important part of building a strong democratic system.
He stressed the importance of making people trust democratic institutions more by being open, having reliable voting systems, and having good ways to settle disputes. He says that a legislative environment that encourages accountability and broad representation is essential for better governance outcomes.
Akume said that strengthening these democratic foundations would not only make Nigeria’s politics more stable, but it would also lead to stronger ties with international development organizations like the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office.
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the former president and chairman of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, also spoke at the event. He stressed how important freedom and justice are for democracy and urged all levels of government to make these values a part of their policies for economic growth.
The best part of the event was when they revealed a report called “The Democracy Dividend: Governance and Growth.” Ann Iyonu, the Executive Director of the Foundation, laid out ten policy goals to help the country grow. These included better governance processes, fiscal discipline, and digitized procurement systems.
She asked policymakers, lawmakers, civil society groups, and development partners to read the report and turn its suggestions into policies that can lead to long-term growth.
