Stakeholders at a two-day interactive session on ‘government-citizens’ engagement’ have called for the institutionalisation of regular dialogue platforms to deepen democratic governance and promote inclusive national development.

The session, organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF), brought together policymakers, civil society actors, traditional leaders, and citizens for exhaustive and frank deliberations on governance and public accountability.

The communique was signed by the director-general of the foundation, Abubakar Umar, on behalf of the participants.

The communique also commended the federal government’s commitment to fulfilling its electoral promises, especially in the areas of security, infrastructure, and economic reforms.

They acknowledged the government’s openness to dialogue and continuous citizens’ engagement, which they described as essential for transparency, equity, and national unity.

The communique highlighted Northern Nigeria’s strategic role in national stability, development, and electoral outcomes, while stressing the urgent need to address persistent regional challenges, particularly the crisis of out-of-school children and the Almajiri system.

According to the communique, the participants observed that major infrastructure projects including the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline, the Kolmani oil exploration, highways, and rural irrigation schemes were progressing steadily.

They emphasised the importance of agricultural value chains and rural industrialisation in creating jobs and ensuring food security.

On economic and security reforms, the summit recommended a more inclusive and non-kinetic approach that leverages community involvement.

It also underscored the importance of strengthened federal and states’ collaboration to drive prosperity across the Northern region.

The key resolutions from the summit included the need for institutionalised, periodic government-citizens’ dialogue platforms at both national and sub-national levels.

They also included increased investments in education to tackle the out-of-school children crisis in the North, the expansion and acceleration of infrastructure development across the country.

Others were: Strengthening of agricultural value chains, livestock development, and the establishment of agro-allied industries to diversify the economy.

The participants also called for greater engagement of CSOs, traditional and religious leaders in policy advocacy as well as public sensitisation.

Promotion of responsible media practices to enhance national cohesion.

Others were the need for rrgional collaboration among Northern states for increased synergy with the federal government.

The summit concluded with a renewed call for transparency, fairness, and equity in governance, emphasising that these values were critical to fostering unity and sustaining democracy.

It urged continued collaboration between government, citizens, and all the stakeholders as the surest path to peace, justice, and prosperity in Nigeria.

(NAN)