Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria on Tuesday took a catalogue of alleged leadership failures that have had far-reaching impacts on the citizenry and put Nigeria on the precipice.

They deplored the government for what they described as worsening insecurity, biting economic hardship, endemic corruption, shrinking civil space, compromised judiciary and erosion of a multi-party democracy and demanded urgent actions from the government and its institutions.

The agitation is coming on the back of recent attacks in Borno, Plateau, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger and Benue States that claimed tens of lives and led to the abduction of many others.

More than half of Nigeria’s over 200 million population endure multi-dimensional poverty, lacking access to food, shelter and education. Rising fuel prices occasioned by the ongoing war in the Middle East have further worsened economic hardship, pushing up food and transportation costs.

In recent times, Nigerians have taken to the streets to protest widespread hardship. The latest demonstration was in Edo State where youths blocked the Benin-Lagos highway to protest a hike in petrol pump price, epileptic power supply, poor state of roads and high cost of food items, among others.

As the 2027 general elections begin to gather momentum, allegations are rife over attempts by the government to gag the opposition, conscript Nigeria into a one-party state and undermine democracy, but the authorities have consistently rebuffed the claims.

However, the civil society, in a statement on Tuesday tagged ‘A Call to Action by Nigerian Civil Society Organisations’ and signed by 52 CSOs, echoed these concerns and called on the government to retrace its steps.

The bodies, including ActionAid Nigeria, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Yiaga Africa, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), contended that politicians enrich themselves to the detriment of the masses’ welfare.

The statement read, “Nigeria is on the brink of collapse. We, the undersigned Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), acting as non-partisan advocates for democracy, human rights, and good governance, issue this urgent plea for responsible leadership and collective action to save our nation from escalating insecurity, rising poverty, and moral decay in public life.

“Across the country, citizens count losses while politicians trade rhetoric. In Zamfara, displaced farmers now live on crumbs in squalid camps. In Abuja, a teacher spends half her income on transportation. In Lagos, families skip meals to pay rent. Yet, federal, state, and local governments continue to enjoy record revenues and allocations.”

They further maintained that politics has become Nigeria’s biggest business while the country suffers despite a significant boost in government revenues from the removal of fuel subsidies and floating of the naira amidst mounting public debts.

The organisations said, in the last two years, federal budgets have surpassed N100 trillion, exceeding the total of all budgets from 1999 to 2017, without having corresponding impacts on Nigerians, who only “see the numbers.”

“Public services falter, inequality grows, and ordinary citizens become poorer while politicians get richer from larger allocations,” they added.

The CSO highlighted eight areas of concern as insecurity and violence; banditry and food collapse; kidnapping epidemic; shrinking civic space, corruption and governance breakdown; economic hardship and inequality; threats to democracy and 2027 elections, as well as eroded judicial credibility.

“Killings, abductions, and displacement have become commonplace. Entire communities across the North and Middle Belt are deserted. Security cooperation remains weak, and political will appears absent. Rural banditry has devastated livelihoods, disrupted food supplies, and caused inflation to rise above 15%. Hunger looms over millions of homes while farms lie abandoned in fear.

“From schoolchildren in Sokoto to commuters in Abuja, kidnapping has become a nationwide industry. Paying ransom has replaced access to safety. Journalists face harassment, activists face threats, and peaceful protesters are silenced. A democracy that fears its citizens is already in decline.

“Entrenched graft continues to drain public resources. Citizens hear about trillion-naira budgets, yet roads stay impassable, hospitals are empty, and schools are in disrepair. Accountability has been replaced by excuses. Despite increasing government revenue, the economy still harms the poor. Inflation, unemployment, and currency instability have worsened inequality. Poverty has become Nigeria’s most noticeable institution,” the statement said.

They lamented that politicians focus on succession battles while citizens struggle for survival and warned that “the manipulation of political systems and the erosion of trust threaten Nigeria’s multiparty democracy and future stability.”

“Justice delayed or influenced is justice denied. Political interference in courts has eroded the judiciary’s former trust,” the groups added.

‘Our demands’

The CSOs affirmed that Nigerians deserve relief, justice and dignity and called for urgent action from the government and its institutions. They asked the authorities to deliver economic justice by converting record revenues into tangible improvements: social protection, job creation, accessible healthcare and affordable food.

They also demanded coordinated national security efforts, enhanced intelligence capabilities, and urged the government to make community protection a priority. The groups sought an end to corruption, swift prosecution of offenders, disclosure of public spending in a transparent manner and restoration of ethics in governance.

The civil society also called on the government to “defend democracy from being hijacked: end the politicisation of institutions, establish political finance integrity mechanisms, ensure electoral reforms before 2027, and maintain internal party democracy.

“Uphold rights and freedoms: respect dissent, protect journalists and activists, and defend civic space from intimidation. Urgently rebuild trust in the judiciary: guarantee independence, deliver timely judgments, and make justice accessible to all citizens.”

They concluded that Nigerians pay the price of political excesses, positing that leadership cannot continue politicking while the nation bleeds.

“Every Naira of public money must be felt in the life of the ordinary citizen; anything less is betrayal. We stand with every Nigerian facing hunger, insecurity, and hopelessness.

We stand for justice, equity, and good governance. The time for excuses is over; Nigeria must choose humanity over politics,” the statement added.

Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director of CISLAC, one of the groups that signed that statement, while speaking with Daily Trust yesterday, said civil society organisations were compelled to speak out due to the “deteriorating condition” of governance in the country.

According to him, the intervention became necessary amid growing concerns over democratic backsliding, insecurity and the perceived collapse of critical infrastructure, particularly in the power sector.

“Civil society, being the conscience of society, had to come out at this time because of the deteriorating condition in Nigeria, whether in terms of democratic baselining, insecurity, or the collapse of infrastructure,” he said.

Rafsanjani lamented the spate of killings and attacks across the country, including incidents involving students, noting that insufficient efforts were made to address the situation.

He accused political actors of prioritising power struggles over governance, alleging that Nigerians are left to grapple with violence and economic hardship.

“There is too much focus by politicians on capturing and retaining power, while Nigerians continue to live in misery amid violent attacks and killings,” he added.

The CISLAC boss also raised concerns over what he described as moves capable of undermining Nigeria’s multi-party democracy, particularly allegations that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may be taking steps that could exclude a major opposition party from participating in elections.

He warned that such actions could erode public trust in the electoral process and further weaken confidence in democratic institutions.

“Nigeria has already lost significant confidence in INEC’s ability to conduct free, fair and credible elections. Any attempt to sideline major opposition parties will only worsen the situation,” he said.

Rafsanjani urged INEC to uphold its constitutional mandate by ensuring inclusiveness, transparency and fairness in the electoral process.

He also called on the electoral body to resist any external pressures that could compromise its independence, especially as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.

“It is important that INEC does not allow any forces to prevent it from carrying out its responsibilities. Nigerians must be assured that elections will be credible and that all legitimate political parties will be given a level playing field,” he stated.

He added that civil society groups would continue to engage relevant stakeholders and advocate for reforms aimed at strengthening democracy and protecting citizens’ rights.

Meanwhile, efforts to get the reaction of the Presidency to the Civil Society organisations’ demands were unsuccessful, as Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, could not be reached for comment.

Also, the mobile phone of Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications, was unreachable.

At the time of filing this report, messages sent to Onanuga and Bwala, including WhatsApp messages, had yet to be replied to.

‘No justification for economic hardship’

A political analyst and lecturer in Politics and Governance at Kwara State University, Dr Seyid Hassan Cisse, said there is no rational justification for the current economic hardship facing Nigerians, particularly at a time when the country is approaching another election cycle.

According to him, worsening economic conditions, marked by rising petrol prices and soaring consumer prices, have made survival increasingly difficult for average citizens.

“There is absolutely no rational justification for the state of the economy, especially when we are preparing for campaigns. It is uncalled for. The price of petrol is alarming, and the cost of goods is becoming unbearable everywhere. The average Nigerian cannot survive under these conditions,” he said.

Cisse noted that in most democratic settings, governments typically take steps to ease the burden on citizens as elections approach, stressing that Nigeria appears to be moving in the opposite direction.

“In a system where votes truly count, leaders should not wait to be told before they act. Governance should naturally reflect the needs of the people, especially at a crucial time like this. Nigerians are tired. There has never been a time in our democratic history where economic conditions are this harsh so close to elections,” he added.

He called on the government to urgently intervene in the pricing of petrol, acknowledging global economic pressures but insisting that authorities must cushion the impact on citizens.

“I understand there are international factors such as exchange rates and global market forces, but the government must still act. Intervention must be deliberate and consistent to restore stability,” he said.

The university lecturer also raised concerns over security ahead of the elections, warning that existing challenges, combined with election-related tensions, could pose serious risks.

“With elections fast approaching, insecurity remains a major concern. The government must ensure a safe and enabling environment for Nigerians to participate freely in the electoral process,” he stated.

n the seeming disconnect between increased government revenue and poor citizens’ welfare, Cisse described the situation as troubling, noting that higher earnings by government agencies have not translated into improved living conditions.

“Government revenues appear to have increased, yet the people are still suffering. This points to a deeper issue in policy implementation,” he said.

Drawing from political economy, he explained that effective economic stabilisation requires a combination of monetary, fiscal and impact-based policies, stressing that the latter is often neglected.

“Monetary and fiscal policies are being implemented, but there is little attention to their actual impact on citizens. Government must assess whether these policies are improving lives,” he noted.

He further described the current inflationary trend as severe, warning that policies must be people-centred and responsive to societal realities.

“Policies must be socially friendly and life-impacting. The government must look back, review its strategies and ensure citizens are truly benefiting. Nigerians are aggrieved. People are not happy,” Cisse said. (Daily Trust)

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