By Abdullahi Alhassan Kaduna
The President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Alhassan Yahaya, has emphasized the need for a deeper partnership between the media and civil society to promote democracy and good governance. This call was made during his visit to the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) Headquarters in Abuja, where both parties explored ways to strengthen their collaboration.
According to the Executive Director of CISLAC, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the media and civil society share a common responsibility in holding power to account and fostering good governance. He noted that both sectors must remain steadfast in their roles as watchdogs of society, emphasizing the importance of active citizen participation in governance and renewed efforts to combat corruption.
Rafsanjani expressed concern over the shrinking civic space, particularly at the sub-national level, where critics of state and local governments often face persecution. He also highlighted Nigeria's financial challenges and the need to mobilize local resources to sustain impactful advocacy efforts.
In his response, the NUJ President praised the enduring synergy between civil society and the media, emphasizing his dual roles as a journalist and civil society advocate. He shared a success story of securing a budget line for nutrition in Gombe State, attributing the achievement to a CISLAC subgrant.
Mr. Yahaya reiterated the constitutional role of journalists in safeguarding free speech and called for NUJ's inclusion in CISLAC's initiatives to build journalists' capacity across the nation. He emphasized passion and dedication to the profession, encouraging CISLAC staff to remain committed to their mission.
The meeting concluded with both leaders reaffirming the importance of collaboration between civil society and the media in addressing national challenges and upholding democratic values.
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