By Bilkisu Adejoh
Over 60 civil society organizations have strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of systematically attacking civic freedoms and undermining Nigeria’s democracy.
In a joint statement, the coalition condemned the government’s actions, which they claim are aimed at silencing dissent and restricting citizens’ rights to protest and express their opinions freely.
The groups voiced their alarm over recent incidents, including the arrest of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and the Department of State Services’ (DSS) siege on the offices of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
These acts, they argue, represent a deliberate effort to limit peaceful protests and the exercise of free speech.
Among the organizations that signed the statement are Amnesty International Nigeria, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), BudgIT, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Connected Development (CODE) and Transition Monitoring Group (TMG).
They have called for the immediate release of all detained protesters, including minors charged with treason, and have demanded an end to the government’s campaign of intimidation against civil society actors.
The statement reads, “Democracy cannot thrive in an environment where dissenting voices are suppressed,” warning that Nigeria’s democratic values are in peril under the current regime.
The coalition urged the Tinubu administration to respect constitutionally guaranteed rights, including the freedom of assembly and expression, and called for an open dialogue with civil society and media organizations to address the concerns of the Nigerian public.
This rebuke comes as national and international concerns grow over Nigeria’s shrinking civic space, with increasing scrutiny on the Tinubu government’s human rights record.
The full list of signatories includes leading civil society groups such as Amnesty International Nigeria, the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Falana and Falana’s Chambers, 21st Century Community Empowerment for Youth Initiative
Accountability Lab,CLEEN Foundation, Nigeria
Abuja School of Social and Political Thought,
Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ),
African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD),
African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL),
Borno Coalition for Democracy and Progress (BOCODEP)
BudgIT Foundation
Center for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity,
Centre for Community Empowerment in Conflict and Peacebuilding – Kaduna,
Centre for Democratic Research and Training (CRDDERT),
Centre for Global Tolerance and Human Rights
Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)
Others include
Centre for Social Centre for Justice Reform,
Centre for Transparency Watch,
Civil Society Legislative,
Community Life Project (CLP),
Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR),
Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA),
Elixir Trust Foundation
Emma Ezeazu Centre for Good Governance and Accountability,
Environmental Rights Action,
Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria (ERA),
Global Rights
Good Governance Team
Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF)
Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre),
Human Rights Social Development and Environmental Foundation,
INVICTUS AFRICA,
Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre,
Lawyers Alert
Media Initiative for Transparency in Extractive Industries (MITEI),
Media Rights Agenda
Mothers and Marginalized Advocacy Centre (MAMA Centre),
Nigeria Network of NGOs,
Open Society on Justice Reform Project
Order Paper,
Organization for Community Civic Engagement (OCCEN),
Partners West Africa
Policy Alert,
Praxis
Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA),
Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative,
Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED),
RULAAC – Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre,
Say NO Campaign Nigeria,
Say No Campaign
Sesor Empowerment Foundation,
Social Action
Socio-Economic Research and Development Centre,
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP),
State of the Union (SOTU),
Tax Justice and Governance Platform,
West Africa Civil Society Forum (WASCSOF),
Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC),
Women in Media Communication Initiative (WIM),
Women in Mining, Nigeria,
World Impact Development Foundation,
Yiaga Africa and
Zero Corruption Coalition (ZCC)
Their collective voice adds weight to the ongoing discourse about the need for the administration to uphold democratic principles and respect for human rights.
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