written by Christian Asiri
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| CONGOs Logo |
The fundamental Rights to freedom of
association and Assembly is in tandem with the need for social participation,
legal interventions, advocacy enshrined in the Universal Declaration of total
participatory governance, this birthed the name Conference of Non-Governmental
Organizations ((CONGOs) seven years ago to unify and regulate the activities of
its affiliates.
The Conference on Tuesday 30th May
2017 marks her 4th Executive Council inauguration ceremony in Benin City.
This epoch making event recorded the
presence of eminent personalities across the country. Some of the dignitaries
present include Prof. Eddy Erhagbe- HOD, History and International Studies, University
of Benin; Barr. Otoighile J. O – representative of the Chief Judge of Edo
State., Dr. Engr. I.K Omorodion- representative of Chairperson and Mr. Justin
Owedia- Representative of the General Manager Edo Broadcasting Services. Also present
were representative of the state DSS, NSCDC, NUJ, paramilitary groups, Mr. Chris
Omusi- member Board of Trustees CONGOs and Rep. Chairman Board of Trustees, Rep.
of the Chief of Staff, Edo State, Rev. Humphrey Areghan- Lead Director, Bethsan
Youth Organization., Comrade Agho Omobude- Edo State Civil Society Organization
(EDOSCO), Barr. Abraham Oviawe – NOCSON., Comrade Austin Osakue- Pioneer
President , CONGOs, Barr. Melody Omisoh- Coordinator of NAPVID, Barr. Mrs.
Edeko- FIDA Coordinator, Mr. Innocent Ajayi- National Youth Council Chairman,
Edo State amongst others.
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The guest speaker, Professor Eddy Erhagbe
Who spoke on the topic “The role of Civil Society in the present Dispensation
(leadership, Call to Service)” said a Civil Society Organization must be driven
by Focus and purpose for it to make impact in the society, however, not all
Civil Society Organization are purpose driven.
Civil society groups may establish
ties to political parties and the state, but they must retain their
independence, and they do not seek political power for themselves.
Often in transitions, groups arise
that seek to monopolize the lives and thinking of their members. These groups
do not tolerate the right of their members to dissent, and they do not respect
other groups that disagree with them. Some of these groups may merely be fronts
for political parties or movements that seek to win control of the state. These
groups are not part of civil society and they do not contribute to building a
democracy.
The first and most basic role of
civil society is to limit and control the power of the state. Of course, any
democracy needs a well-functioning and authoritative state. But when a country
is emerging from decades of dictatorship, it also needs to find ways to check,
monitor, and restrain the power of political leaders and state officials.
Civil society actors should watch how
state officials use their powers. They should raise public concern about any
abuse of power. They should lobby for access to information, including freedom
of information laws, and rules and institutions to control corruption. This
constitutes a second important role of civil society: to expose the corrupt
conduct of public officials and lobby for good governance reforms. Even where
anti-corruption laws and bodies exist, they cannot function effectively without
the active support and participation of civil society.
Another role of civil societies
according to Professor Eddy is to promote political participation. NGOs can do
this by educating people about their rights and obligations as democratic citizens,
and encouraging them to listen to election campaigns and vote in elections.
NGOs can also help develop citizens’ skills to work with one another to solve
common problems, to debate public issues, and express their views. Also, civil
society organizations can help to develop the other values of democratic life:
tolerance, moderation, compromise, and respect for opposing points of view.
Without this deeper culture of accommodation, democracy cannot be stable. These
values cannot simply be taught; they must also be experienced through practice.
We have outstanding examples from other countries of NGOs—especially women’s
groups—that have cultivated these values in young people and adults through
various programs that practice participation and debate.
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| third from left Blessed Jatt Director of Strategy and other executive members during the oath taking ceremony |
Civil societies also can help to
develop programs for democratic civic education in the schools as well. After
dictatorship, comprehensive reforms are needed to revise the curricula, rewrite
the textbooks, and retrain teachers in order to educate young people about the
crimes of the past and teach them the principles and values of democracy. This
is too important a task to leave only to officials in the education ministry.
Civil society must be involved as a constructive partner and advocate for
democracy and human rights training. civil society is an arena for the
expression of diverse interests, and one role for civil society organizations
is to lobby for the needs and concerns of their members, as women, students,
farmers, environmentalists, trade unionists, lawyers, doctors, and so on. NGOs
and interest groups can present their views to parliament and provincial
councils, by contacting individual members and testifying before parliamentary
committees. They can also establish a dialogue with relevant government
ministries and agencies to lobby for their interests and concerns. And it is
not only the resourceful and well organized who can have their voices heard.
Over time, groups that have historically been oppressed and confined to the
margins of society can organize to assert their rights and defend their
interests as well.
Again, civil society can strengthen
democracy is to provide new forms of interest and solidarity that cut across
old forms of tribal, linguistic, religious, and other identity ties. Democracy
cannot be stable if people only associate with others of the same religion or
identity. When people of different religions and ethnic identities come
together on the basis of their common interests as women, artists, doctors,
students, workers, farmers, lawyers, human rights activists, environmentalists,
and so on, civic life becomes richer, more complex, and more tolerant. Civil
society can provide a training ground for future political leaders. NGOs and
other groups can help to identify and train new types of leaders who have dealt
with important public issues and can be recruited to run for political office
at all levels and to serve in provincial and national cabinets. Experience from
other countries shows that civil society is a particularly important arena from
which to recruit and train future women leaders.
Civil society organizations can play
an important role in mediating and helping to resolve conflict. In other
countries, NGOs have developed formal programs and training of trainers to
relieve political and ethnic conflict and teach groups to solve their disputes
through bargaining and accommodation. Civil society organizations have a vital
role to play in monitoring the conduct of elections. This requires a broad
coalition of organizations, unconnected to political parties or candidates,
that deploys neutral monitors at all the different polling stations to ensure
that the voting and vote counting is entirely free, fair, peaceful, and
transparent. It is very hard to have credible and fair elections in a new
democracy unless civil society groups play this role.
Finally, civil society is not simply
in tension with the state. Because civil society is independent of the state
doesn’t mean that it must always criticize and oppose the state. In fact, by
making the state at all levels more accountable, responsive, inclusive, and
effective—and hence more legitimate—a vigorous civil society strengthens
citizens’ respect for the state and promotes their positive engagement with it.
A democratic state cannot be stable
unless it is effective and legitimate, with the respect and support of its
citizens. Civil society is a check, a monitor, but also a vital partner in the
quest for this kind of positive relationship between the democratic state and
its citizens.
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| Members of the fourth executive council of CONGOs |
The highlight of the event is the
oath taking and swearing in of the 4th executives members of CONGOs conducted
the Chief Judge of Edo State represented by Barr. Otoighile J. O. and the
presentation of meritorious service award was presented to the pioneer President
and immediate past President Mr. Austin Osakue and Comrade Jude Obasanmi
respectively.
The Executive members sworn in are
Comrade Destiny Enabulele – President
Pst. Mrs. Abiola Daisy. – Vice
President
Harrison I. Izekor – Director of
Administration
Okuodo Bartholomew – Deputy Director
of Administration
Osakue E. Augustina – Director of
Treasury
Onome E. Otueroro – Director of
Publicity
Oseki Favour E. – Director of Welfare
Blessed Jatt- Director of Strategy,
Research and Advocacy.
Igbuan P. Ilofuan ESQ. – Legal
Adviser
Grace Okereke – Monitoring and
Evaluation
Comrade Jude Obasanmi in his farewell
speech appreciated the conference and partner network groups for their active
involvement, participation and sacrificial support demonstrated in his administration.
He also expressed gratitude to the pioneer President Comrade Austin Osakue for
his encouragements which formed the pillars that made his administration firm
and solid.
On the other hand, the newly President,
Comrade Destiny Enabulele in his inaugural speech appreciated the leadership of
the past administration and request support in his administration.
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