Civil Society Groups Begin Dialogue with MDAs, Spotlight NTAC to Deepen Transparency, Accountability

By Maryanne Awuya

The Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG) has launched a nationwide initiative to partner with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), kicking off its first engagement with the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) to drive public sector transparency, accountability, and governance reform.

 CSGGG President Comrade Ogakwu Dominic noted that the initiative marks the start of a fresh strategy aimed at building constructive, long-term collaboration with government bodies.

“This stakeholders’ engagement is the first in a series. We are taking ownership by engaging Ministries, Departments and Agencies directly to strengthen accountability, transparency and sustainable development,” he said.

Dominic explained that the initiative would involve sustained engagements with government agencies to encourage openness, monitor performance and promote better governance through dialogue rather than confrontation.

In his remarks, Director-General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, said civil society organisations play a critical role in ensuring accountability and improving governance.

“Nigeria belongs to all of us. Government officials are only public servants chosen to serve over 200 million Nigerians,” Yakub said.

He explained that NTAC, established in 1987, promotes Nigeria’s foreign policy through technical assistance by deploying skilled Nigerian professionals to African, Caribbean and Pacific countries under South-South cooperation.

According to him, the agency has deployed over 10,000 Nigerian experts to more than 40 countries, strengthening Nigeria’s international reputation through soft power diplomacy while creating opportunities for Nigerian professionals.

Yakub also highlighted recent reforms at the agency, including infrastructure upgrades, improved welfare for volunteers and new initiatives aimed at reducing unemployment by exporting Nigerian manpower through structured international partnerships.

He called on civil society organisations to support the agency’s mandate by providing independent feedback and helping improve its operations.

Also speaking, Executive Director of the Integrity Advocacy for Development Initiative (IADI), Comrade Ofomhi Christopher, said sustainable national development can only be achieved through constructive collaboration between government institutions and civil society organisations.

He described civil society as a vital partner in promoting transparency, accountability, policy advocacy and citizen participation, adding that “meaningful engagement not confrontation is the pathway to building stronger institutions and a more prosperous Nigeria.”

Persecondnews reports that CSGGG said the NTAC engagement marks the first in a series of planned stakeholder dialogues with MDAs across the country in the coming months, as part of efforts to deepen accountability, strengthen institutional partnerships and encourage more inclusive governance through sustained civil society engagement.