The Presidency has introduced new conditions for the quarterly Stakeholder and Citizens Engagement Meetings, emphasizing transparency, inclusivity, and active citizen participation in governance.
The guidelines, released by the Central Delivery Coordination Unit (CDCU) under the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, require ministries to hold at least one engagement meeting per quarter, led by the minister alongside key officials.
The CDCU stated that these meetings were introduced as a directive from President Bola Tinubu to ensure that ministers regularly communicate government initiatives and policies to the public while ensuring a stronger relationship between the government and citizens.
To enhance participation, the CDCU stressed that the engagements must involve civil society organisations, professional groups, the media, and citizens, ensuring public feedback is considered in policy decisions.
It clarified that not all ministerial appearances, such as interviews or event speeches, qualify as engagement meetings unless stakeholders are actively involved.
Additionally, ministries must submit records of compliance, including invitations, attendance lists, presentations, and reports on feedback implementation.