Consultant to Ogun state Governor and the Publishers of Gateway Times Nigeria and Ijebu News Xtra magazine, Baa’royin Dayo Rufai has called for increased citizen participation, civic awareness and accountability to strengthen democracy and promote good governance at the grassroots level.
Rufai made the call while speaking on a current affairs programme, Morning Cruise, on Paramount FM 94.5, where he discussed the importance of grassroots mobilisation and the role of the media in promoting good governance.
He said democracy becomes stronger when citizens move from ignorance to awareness, from awareness to participation, and from participation to accountability.
According to him, informed citizens should not merely observe governance but actively contribute to building a better society by understanding their rights, participating in decision-making and demanding accountability from elected officials.
Rufai identified public education as one of the major responsibilities of the media, noting that radio programmes could help explain citizens’ rights, the responsibilities of elected representatives, local government functions, public budgets and access to government services.
He added that the use of Yoruba and other familiar languages would make governance issues easier for citizens to understand and encourage greater participation at the community level.
The speaker also highlighted the importance of phone-in programmes, interviews, community reports and town hall broadcasts in providing platforms for residents to express their concerns and seek answers from public officials.
He stressed that investigative and accountability reporting remained essential to good governance, urging journalists to investigate abandoned projects, verify government claims and demand explanations from relevant authorities while maintaining fairness, accuracy and professionalism.
Rufai further explained that the media could bridge the gap between citizens and decision-makers by providing opportunities for councillors, local government chairmen, commissioners, government agencies and community leaders to address public concerns and explain measures being taken to resolve them.
On the challenges facing grassroots mobilisation, he observed that one of the major problems was the disconnect between citizens and the institutions responsible for governing them.
He noted that although many communities demand development, residents often lack adequate knowledge of how government operates, which public officials are responsible for specific services and the appropriate channels for holding them accountable.
Rufai maintained that addressing this gap through sustained civic education, effective communication and active community engagement would help citizens make informed demands and contribute meaningfully to governance.
He called for stronger collaboration among the media, government institutions, community leaders and residents to promote transparency, accountability and improved public service delivery.
He emphasised that grassroots mobilisation would become more effective when citizens were adequately informed, encouraged to participate in governance and empowered to demand results from their elected representatives.
