Lagos Government develops strategic partnership with CSOs. By Ayo Adebusoye Secretary General- NNNGO The Lagos State Government (LASG) and Civil Society Policy Dialogue is an initiative of the Coalition for Issues Based Politics and Good Governance (CIPOGG), Lagos Chapter. The essence of the dialogue was to establish a partnership with the public sector in order to promote common understanding and cooperation as social partners. The main purpose is to build up a social economy that is based on partnership, participation and social well being for the larger Nigerian citizens living in Lagos State. In a short background to this dialogue, CIPOGG Lagos recognized that Nigeria's civil society organizations (CSOs) and governments have shared a common goal to achieve full development. But actions taken by these groups towards the achievements of this goal have run parallel to each other. On the government side, a colonial and a subsequent militarized background has hindered participatory consultations with CSOs in key decision making processes. Even when they have worked together, such relationships have been hampered by a lack of transparency and suspicion on either side. CIPOGG also perceived that actions towards development have been singular involving unit organizations rather than through larger networks. These factors have slowed down participation of non-state actors in decision-making and limited the capacity of CSOs to impact on government decisions. In order to bridge this gap, two interactive fora were organized by CIPOGG and the Lagos State Government. Major coalitions or networks attended the first policy dialogue, which took place on 12th February 2008 at the Golden Gate Restaurant Ikoyi, from CSOs in Lagos State. The meeting was strategically organized to inform and prepare Lagos CSOs to engage and partner with government more effectively. Thus major activities and contributions at the meetings were geared towards exchange of practical experience, strengths and weaknesses of a partnership with LASG. In particular, the policy dialogue assessed and adopted a proposed Memorandum of Understanding developed to guide a LASG/CSO partnership. A proposed action plan was also reviewed and adopted. The second interactive forum was organized, driven and facilitated by the LASG. This took place on the 8th April 2008 at the Ostra Hall, Agingigbi Ikeja. The Lagos State Commissioner for Establishment & Training Mr Jide Sanwo-olu, the Specail Adviser to the Deputy Governor Ronke Azeez, other key officials from the LASG as well as major CSO coalitions and networks in Lagos State were in attendance at the forum. Although in this case the MOU and the LASG/ CSO partnership were not the focus of this meeting, CSOs and government officials developed plans for a partnership. These included plans for defining the first draft of the structure of a LASG/CSO partnership, designing communication strategies and to proposing pilot projects to flag off the LASG/CSO partnership. Three working groups comprising of CSOs and LASG representatives were established at the conclusion of the forum to carry out detailed formulation of the foregoing key areas before the next LASG-CSO meeting. Back to Top