The Accountability Lab Nigeria has raised concerns over insecurity, poor public service delivery and declining youth participation in elections in Kaduna State.

The organisation’s Programmes and Learning Manager, Ehi Idakwo expressed the concerns at a two-day civic action teams (CivActs) state-based participatory governance and rights-based engagement workshop organised by Accountability Lab Nigeria in Kaduna on Tuesday.

Ms Idakwo said the engagement was aimed at strengthening the capacity of civil society organisations (CSOs), media practitioners, community leaders and other stakeholders in Zaria and Kaduna South to promote accountability and citizens’ participation in governance.

She said the initiative followed a baseline survey conducted about three months ago to assess citizens’ experiences and satisfaction with governance in the two local government areas.

According to her, the survey identified insecurity, public service delivery, human rights violations and elections as key areas requiring sustained civic engagement.

“About 78.5 per cent of the respondents have experienced violence occasionally and frequently. We think that is a worrisome indicator,” Ms Idakwo said.

She also expressed concern over the number of young respondents aged 18 to 25 who indicated that they were not interested in voting in the forthcoming elections and did not have permanent voter cards (PVCs).

She said the trend could weaken citizens’ ability to demand accountability from elected officials.

“Almost 80 per cent of the respondents were highly dissatisfied with public service delivery, particularly water, roads, transportation, health and education,” she said.

Ms Idakwo said the organisation was seeking to strengthen existing accountability mechanisms by ensuring that concerns raised by citizens at the community level were properly documented, escalated to relevant institutions and followed up until responses were obtained.

She called on CSOs, media organisations, youth activists and community stakeholders to work together and set aside ethnic and religious differences in addressing issues affecting citizens.

According to her, the shrinking civic space and challenges to fundamental rights make collective action necessary to strengthen democratic resilience.

A Community Frontline Advocate (CFA) with Accountability Lab Nigeria in Kaduna South, Seth Luke, said the engagement was also designed to strengthen democratic resilience in the area.

Mr Luke said the baseline survey conducted in Kaduna South and Zaria identified roads, water supply and security as some of the major concerns raised by residents.

He said the findings were already being used to engage relevant stakeholders, including a recent advocacy visit to the commandant of the Kaduna State Vigilance Service (Kadvis) on security concerns.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Kaduna State Chapter, Umar Abubakar, said the state had provided platforms for citizens to participate in budget preparation and implementation.

Mr Abubakar said youths could also use the Freedom of Information (FOI) mechanism to obtain information on constituency projects, local government activities, allocations, revenue collection and utilisation.

He said Kaduna State had also established vocational training centres aimed at equipping young people with skills relevant to current economic realities.

Another participant, Asmau Sagir of Civic Innovation Hub, called for stronger collaboration between civil society organisations and government.

Mr Sagir said both sides needed to find common ground and develop mechanisms for working together in the interest of communities, Kaduna State and Nigeria as a whole.

(NAN)