Last Tuesday, December 9, 2025, the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leader ship (CACOL), held a work shop on ‘Participatory Governance at the Grassroots Level in Lagos in Ikeja Division of Lagos State.
The event, which was held at Rights House, Adeniyi Jones, IKeja Lagos, witnessed a keynote Speaker, Representatives of the Lagos State Office of Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement, Guest Speaker, Community Leaders and members of the Civil Society as well as the press.
In an opening remark by the CACOL Chairman, veteran activist, Debo Adeniran, welcomed everyone to the very important event, with the theme, ‘Constructing a Synergy Between Administrators and the Populace at the Local Government Level.’ The event, Adeniran stressed, coincided with the International Anti-Corruption Day.
He said the gathering, was organised in collaboration with the Lagos State Office of Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement, with the theme, ‘Strengthening Participatory, Corruption-free Governance at the Grassroots Level’.
He stressed that the workshop was a crucial step towards empowering communities in the Ikeja Di vision of the state, adding that the workshop would also be held in other divisions, even as he commended the Lagos State Office of Political, Legis lative and Civic Engagement for the collaboration with CACOL to make the event possible.
Adeniran said: “Our collective goal is unambiguous: to strengthen community involvement in decision-making and to fundamentally improve the effectiveness, transparency, and accountability of local governance. Grassroots governance is the bedrock of democracy.
“It is the level where government policies either translate into tangible benefits or dissolve into frustration. When citizens are active participants, not passive recipients in the processes that affect their lives, we see more equitable resource allocation, more relevant projects, and a strengthened social contract.
“Participatory governance fosters ownership, reduces conflicts, un locks local innovation, and ensures that public services truly respond to public need. It is the most potent antidote to alienation and apathy.”
Adeniran appealed to the participants, which included government officials, activists and journalists, traditional rulers, Community Development Associations (CDAs) and Community Development Commit tees (CDCs), that through their inter actions with the local government administrators after this workshop, CACOL envisioned a new dynamic.
He stressed: “We envision in formed citizens who confidently ask questions, demand transparency in budgets, and monitor project implementation. We envision community leaders who can constructively engage with officials, leveraging plat forms for feedback not as a grievance theatre, but as a partnership for development.
“The positive impact we seek is a shift from a culture of silence and suspicion to one of dialogue and collaboration.
“Significantly, today’s event aligns with the global commemoration of the International Anti-Corruption Day, as declared by the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.
“This year’s theme reinforces our mission. Corruption thrives in the dark corners of closed-door decisions and opaque processes. Therefore, we make a special and urgent appeal to all administrators at the local level: you must live above board and operate an open governance system that is utterly devoid of corruption.
“Participatory governance, powered by active citizens, is the sunlight that disinfects and prevents the de cay of corruption. When citizens are watching and involved, accountability becomes inevitable.
“The outcome of today’s event will be shared with all the Administrators of local government and local council development areas in Lagos State.
“We profoundly appreciate the in valuable support and partnership of the Lagos State Office of Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement. This collaboration exemplifies the synergy needed to drive change.
“CACOL remains open and eager to work with all like-minded non-governmental organisations, government agencies, and public-spirited individuals who prioritize the welfare of the citizens. Our strength is in our unity and shared commitment.”
Adeniran assured that CACOL would continue to be at the fore front, facilitating programmes and projects designed to bridge the gap between the government and the governed.
“We are dedicated to initiating and supporting efforts that bring governance closer to the people, making it more accessible, understandable, and responsive,” he stressed, even as he told the participants that as catalysts, the knowledge and networks they would gain from the workshop “are tools for transformation. We charge you to step into your communities as ambassadors of open leadership and participatory democracy.”
In his keynote address, Hon. Bolaji Kayode Roberts, the Lagos Com missioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, represented by Abiodun Abdullahi, Director (Legal) in the ministry, expressed happiness for being part of the workshop, meant to examine a subject that lies at the heart of progressive governance, participatory governance at the grassroots level.
According to him, “Good governance is not achieved by putting out policies alone. It is strengthened when the people for whom policies are designed are meaningfully in volved in shaping them. At the local government level, where governance is brought closer to the people, participation is not optional, it is essential.”
He stressed that good governance is the tool through which “we can sustain trust, deepen accountability, and build communities that reflect the collective aspirations of their members.”
He noted that the workshop, organised by the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) was timely, adding, “Our democracy continues to evolve, and with it comes the need to enhance transparency, open up decision making processes, and ensure that administrators and the populace work hand-in-hand rather than in isolation or opposition.”
He continued: “The theme of today’s conversation, ‘Constructing a Synergy Between Administrators and the Populace at the Local Government Level’, perfectly captures a long-standing challenge.
“Time and again, gaps exist between those who govern and those who are governed. These gaps create misunderstanding, weaken service delivery, and slow down development.
“Our participatory governance empowers citizens to contribute ideas, express concerns, monitor projects, and jointly evaluate government performance. “When communities participate, policy making becomes more grounded.
When local government councils listen, governance becomes more effective. And when collaboration thrives, development is accelerated. This is the essence of grass roots democracy.
“As we commemorate the International Anti-Corruption Day, it is also important to acknowledge that participation is one of the strongest antidotes to corruption. A community that watches, questions, and con tributes is a community that protects its public institutions. Transparency flourishes when citizens are active and when governance is open.
“I therefore call on all stakeholders, local government officials, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, market associations, youth groups, and the media to see today’s gathering not just as a work shop, but as a commitment.
“A commitment to rebuild trust. A commitment to empower citizens. A commitment to deliver governance that is both accountable and people-centred. I thank Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leader ship (CACOL) for its continued advocacy for transparency and open leadership.
“Together, let us build a future where every citizen has a voice and every local government area becomes a model of participation, accountability, and development.”
A popular female activist, Affiong L Affiong, who was the guest speaker, who spoke extempore dwelt on the need for Nigerians to be well informed right from the grassroots level, even as she stressed the need for regular town halls with citizens interfacing with local government officials to share ideas on what people need and what they expect from government.
She noted that people in the cities are more informed than those in rural areas due to education, adding that the cities boast of professional associations and cultural groups, hence they should be able to inter face with the government and be aware of the activities of government, including budgeting.
Affiong also stressed the need for synergy between the people and the government, adding that where this exists, people will not steal what belongs to the people.
According to him, people lose the development of their areas through the stealing and destruction of infra structures in their areas.
She also called on the people to be interested in the modes of recruitment into the local governments, even as the government should know the different interest groups in its area of jurisdiction.
She stressed the need for the government officials to sit down with the people to know their local needs, adding that during town halls, officials should go with recording devices to be able to capture what transpired at such events.
After contributions by several participants, Comrade Adenian in his conclusion stressed that people should be intentional about the people they elect in the next elections.
He called on everyone to return to their local governments and places of residence and inform the people there what transpired in the work shop.
Read more on Independent Newspapers Nigeria
