Citizens’ involvement in governance has a concrete impact on leadership decisions that would transcend to sustainable development and a better life for all. In Nigeria, the domains of governance and leadership have faced numerous hurdles, leading to widespread debates about underperformance. These issues are attributed to the complexities of the governing framework and the government’s inability to establish genuine transparency and accountability. 

Many citizens struggle to comprehend the intricate issues and procedures within our parliamentary system. The use of elaborate language, confusing rules, and the practices within our legislative bodies contribute to a sense of alienation from the complex web of legislative matters and processes that influence their lives. The involvement of citizens in governance profoundly influences leadership decisions, resulting in sustainable development and an improved quality of life for all. Building on this and recognizing the imperative need to bridge the gap between the government and the people, the project Open Parly Nigeria was initiated. 

With Open Parly, we aim to increase citizens’ awareness of the legislative process and practices, especially in the sub-national, advance people-centric governance, foster democracy by building trust in their elected officials, open governance, and bridge the information gap between government and citizens through simplifying legislative terminologies and processes, empowering ordinary citizens through community outreaches, and leveraging digital communication channels that includes radio shows, social media infographics, and news dissemination on the Open Parly Nigeria website. This empowers them to lend their voices and hold their elected representatives accountable. 

CODE, in partnership with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), is implementing the Open Parly Nigeria Project in Yobe, Kwara, and Oyo states. Through the Open Parly project, CODE has not only built the capacity of community journalists and stakeholders but has also facilitated a deeper understanding of legislative processes.  With the successes recorded so far on the project, a scale-up of the project has key started. In this phase of the Open Parly Nigeria project with support from Magamba Network,  there will be a varied approach aimed at strengthening democratic practices and fostering transparency within Nigeria’s subnational Houses of Assembly. One significant aspect of this phase will involve the production of a documentary that delves into the testing process to assess the extent of the shrinking civic space within the country. This documentary will serve as a powerful tool to raise awareness about the challenges faced in maintaining an open and accountable democratic system.