The Executive Director of the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Comrade Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, has called for stronger accountability, more courageous journalism and deeper collaboration between the media and civil society to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
Zikirullahi said democracy could not thrive when accountability was treated as antagonism, criticism mistaken for hostility and citizens’ demands for good governance ignored.
He spoke on Friday during a visit to members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abuja Council, as part of activities marking CHRICED’s 20th anniversary under the theme, “20 Years of Voice and Justice: Empowering Citizens, Shaping Tomorrow,” .
According to him, Nigeria is at a defining moment in its democratic development, with citizens grappling with economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment, social exclusion and growing concerns about governance.
“Democracy does not thrive merely because elections are held. Democracy flourishes when citizens are informed, when power is scrutinised, when institutions are accountable, and when ordinary people have platforms through which their voices can be heard,” he said.
The CHRICED executive director stressed that the media and civil society remained indispensable to strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring that government responded to citizens’ needs.
“When journalists ask difficult questions, democracy breathes. When civil society mobilises citizens, democracy deepens. When both institutions stand together, democracy becomes stronger, more inclusive, and more responsive to the needs of the people,” Zikirullahi stated.
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He urged government institutions to embrace constructive criticism and respond to citizens’ concerns rather than dismissing demands for accountability.
Reflecting on CHRICED’s two decades of advocacy, Zikirullahi said the organisation had worked with communities, government institutions, development partners, traditional leaders, youth groups, women’s organisations and the media to promote democratic participation and social justice.
He listed its interventions to include advocacy for maternal healthcare, transparent Universal Basic Education Commission funding, inclusive Almajiri education, the rights of Abuja’s Original Inhabitants, constituency project monitoring, accountability in public spending, protection of civic freedoms and campaigns against abuse of power.
He said the organisation’s advocacy would not have achieved the same reach without the media’s support, describing the media as a strategic ally in the pursuit of democracy and social justice, rather than merely a channel for disseminating information.
“If CHRICED has had a voice over the last 20 years, it is because the media helped carry that voice across Nigeria. If our advocacy resonated beyond conference halls and project communities, it is because journalists amplified it,” he added.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Felix Ojo, commended CHRICED for its sustained humanitarian interventions and contributions to promoting human rights, civic education and accountable governance in Nigeria.
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Ojo, who spoke on behalf of the executive members of the chapel, identified potential areas of collaboration between the Chapel and CHRICED, particularly investigative journalism, climate change reporting and health awareness.
The Chairman said the proposed areas of partnership aligned with CHRICED’s strategic priorities for the next five years and offered opportunities for both institutions to deepen public awareness, strengthen accountability and amplify issues affecting vulnerable communities.
He expressed optimism that stronger collaboration between CHRICED and the Correspondents’ Chapel would enhance professional journalism, promote evidence-based reporting and ensure that critical issues of public interest received the attention they deserved.