The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) has called on the Abia State Government to replace the traditional Governor’s Media Chat with a more structured and results-oriented transparency and accountability briefing system.
In a statement signed by Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, Executive Director of FENRAD, the civil society organization noted that while the media chat has historically served as a communication channel between the government and the public, it has increasingly failed to deliver comprehensive, verifiable, and citizen-focused information on governance.
According to FENRAD, the current format of the media chat limits meaningful engagement, restricts data-driven scrutiny, and does not adequately reflect the concerns of ordinary citizens, particularly vulnerable and marginalized groups.
The organization is therefore advocating for the introduction of periodic Transparency and Accountability Briefings, which it described as a more inclusive and participatory approach to governance.
FENRAD explained that the proposed framework would provide the government with a credible platform to present its performance scorecards, development milestones, and ongoing projects in a detailed and measurable format. It added that such briefings would also encourage public scrutiny and feedback, ensuring that governance remains responsive to the needs of the people.
The group further stressed that the initiative would promote inclusiveness by involving civil society organizations, community representatives, youth groups, women, and persons with disabilities in the engagement process. It noted that the presentation of verifiable data, including budget performance reports and project updates, would strengthen accountability mechanisms and improve public trust.
“Transparency is not merely about information dissemination, but about ensuring that governance is accessible, timely, and participatory,” the organization stated.
FENRAD added that adopting a structured accountability framework would enable citizens to better understand how public resources are allocated and utilized, thereby reinforcing democratic governance and reducing the risk of mismanagement.
The organization also pointed out that such a model aligns with global best practices in open governance and could position Abia State as a leader in transparency, participatory democracy, and sustainable development at the subnational level in Nigeria.
To achieve this, FENRAD called on the state government to institutionalize quarterly transparency briefings, publish project tracking dashboards and budget performance reports ahead of each session, and create space for independent questioning by civil society groups and the media.
It also recommended the integration of digital platforms to ensure wider citizen participation, especially for residents in rural and underserved communities.
FENRAD reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with the government and other stakeholders to deepen transparency, promote accountability, and ensure inclusive and sustainable development outcomes in the state.
