THE CIVIL Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has called for inclusive economic growth, accountable governance and greater youth participation in decision-making to promote sustainable development in Nigeria.
Mr Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director of CISLAC, made the call in a goodwill message delivered by Ms Husna Al-hassan, the Assistant Communications Officer of the organisation, at the 2026 News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)-Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Media Week.
Rafsanjani, commended the NAN and NUJ for providing a platform for stakeholders to discuss issues affecting Nigeria’s economic future.
He said the country had enormous economic potential in agriculture, manufacturing, technology, creative industries and entrepreneurship, but stressed the need to translate these opportunities into tangible benefits for citizens.
According to him, economic progress should go beyond impressive statistics and increased national revenue to deliver decent jobs, improved purchasing power, stronger local industries, accessible public services and better living conditions.
He identified investment in human capital, an enabling business environment and expanded opportunities for women and young people as critical to achieving sustainable economic growth.
The CISLAC executive director also emphasised the need to address structural barriers that constrained productivity, discouraged investment and limited citizens’ participation in economic activities.
He said responsible management of public resources, transparency in public expenditure, effective legislative oversight and accountable institutions were essential to ensuring that economic prosperity benefited Nigerians.
“Resources must be translated into public value, and policies must be assessed not merely by their intentions, but by their outcomes,” he said.
Rafsanjani said CISLAC remained committed to promoting accountable governance, legislative advocacy and citizens’ participation in public affairs.
He urged public institutions to remain responsive to citizens’ needs and create systems that enabled them to understand, question and contribute to decisions affecting their lives.
He also highlighted the importance of the media in promoting democracy and national development through credible reporting, public education and investigative journalism.
According to him, the media should go beyond reporting economic announcements and statistics to examine the actual impact of government policies on citizens.
“When public funds are allocated, the public deserves to know whether those resources are achieving their intended purposes,” he said.
Rafsanjani called for greater inclusion of young people in governance, saying they should not only be regarded as future leaders but also recognised as contributors to national development.
He said meaningful youth inclusion required listening to young people, entrusting them with responsibilities and providing opportunities for them to contribute to decision-making.
The CISLAC executive director expressed appreciation to NAN and NUJ for organising the engagement, expressing hope that discussions would generate practical solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges. (NAN)
