• Seek urgent review of Social Development Act, national alignment

The European Union- International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance EU-IIDEA, along with relevant stakeholders, has called for an urgent review of Nigeria’s Social Development Act (SDA), stressing the shrinking civic space at the sub-national level.

This was disclosed at the National SDA summit, organised by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IIDEA) and funded by the European Union under its CSOs-Bridge Strengthening Project, in Abuja.

At the Summit the stakeholders agreed that the country cannot achieve inclusive growth or protect vulnerable groups under the current fragmented framework. The SD Act was first conceptualised in the 1970s and enacted in 2004, as the central framework for coordinated and inclusive social development in Nigeria.

Speaking to journalists, the Chairman of the Anambra Civil Society Network, Prince Chris Azor, shared experiences illustrating the challenges faced by sub-national CSOs, including inconsistent regulations that once led to the closure of community organisations’ bank accounts.

“We were stranded. Even the registration processes were unclear. When grassroots operators cannot function, you are shrinking the civic space,” he said.

He urged that the amended Act provide states with a clear legal framework for social protection and participation by civil society. “We want a standing law that expands the civic space and ensures citizens are part of governance.”

In the same vein, Project Manager of the EU Strengthening Bridge (EU-Bridge) Project, Mr Idem Akpan Udoekong, said the summit was convened to revive national attention to the long-standing but underutilised Social Development Act of 1974 and the Social Development Policy.

According to Udoekong, both instruments are crucial for improving coordination and strengthening the legal recognition of civil society organisations, particularly those working with women and vulnerable groups.

He explained that the goal of the engagement was to gather insights that would inform the reform of the Social Development Act and potentially lead to the development of a new national policy or bill. Such reforms, he noted, would place CSOs in a stronger position to contribute more meaningfully to social development, given the country’s pressing challenges.

Udoekong stressed that "CSOs were already playing an indispensable role in society beyond the common perception of advocacy. He recalled joining a youth club at the age of 14, an experience he credited with shaping his values and leadership skills. From cooperative societies to community-based groups and professional associations, he said CSOs were supporting education, healthcare, civic values, and community development, often stepping in to provide services that were ordinarily expected of the government.

On expectations from the summit, which coincides with the global 16 Days of Activism campaign, he said updating the SDA will enhance coordination on gender issues, support efforts to address gender-based violence and strengthen responses to other social concerns.

Delivering the keynote address, the Enugu State Commissioner for Children, Gender, and Social Development, Hon. Valentina Enih, said the existing Act, originally enacted as Decree 12 in 1974 and later reissued in 2004, no longer reflects the country’s realities.

She said: “The Act is older than many of us. Outdated provisions and emerging social challenges demand urgent reform."

She stressed that unity among civil society organisations (CSOs) remained essential for progress, noting that personal interests often overshadowed collective objectives.

“One stick is easily broken, but a bundle of broomsticks is not. We must speak with one voice,” she said, while also appealing to lawmakers to increase funding for ministries responsible for women's affairs, poverty eradication and social protection. “Many times, we use our personal resources just to ensure the work is done,” she lamented.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Civil Society Organisations and Development Partners, Hon. Victor Obuzor, acknowledged the legislative gaps that have hindered effective coordination of social development nationwide.

He said the National Assembly had made the Act’s review a priority. “Fragmentation, institutional reassignments and multiple regulatory frameworks have weakened the effectiveness of the Social Development Act.

"Our Committee is reviewing historical gaps, engaging stakeholders and supporting the development of a modernised civil society regulatory bill,” he stated.

According to him, the revised law would create more precise lines of authority, harmonise federal and state mandates and institutionalise civil society participation.

For his part, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Peter Audu, said the forum aligns with federal reforms targeting gender equality, social protection and national cohesion.

He noted that the government was committed to building stronger collaboration across ministries, development partners and state institutions.

“This forum provides an important opportunity to consider proposed amendments and develop a national coalition for sustainable financing and measurable results,” he said.

The CEO of the Accountability and Transparency Initiative, Dr Fumi Akinyele, called for the revised law to embed gender responsiveness from the design stage.

She noted that many rural women were excluded from social protection programmes due to requirements such as smartphones, bank verification numbers and digital literacy.

“Inclusion must go beyond words. We need clear definitions, gender-responsive budgeting and disaggregated data. Committees must be balanced so that different voices are heard,” she said.

In the same vein, Harry Udo, Team Lead of the Ethics and Good Leadership Awareness Initiative, said that the summit was timely, as it revived national attention to the long-neglected Social Development Act, which he described as critical for strengthening civil society operations at the sub-national level.

He noted that although the Act empowers state governments to confer legal personality on civil society organisations, many state-registered CSOs currently lack the legal status required to open bank accounts or access financial systems. According to him, this gap has forced many grassroots groups to seek registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) merely to obtain the documentation required for basic financial operations, resulting in widespread financial exclusion and operational hardship for organisations delivering essential services within states and local communities.

Udo explained that harmonising registration and regulatory procedures under the Social Development Act would allow states to grant CSOs the same corporate status enjoyed by CAC-registered entities, thereby expanding the civic space and improving the operating environment for organisations working on social, economic and humanitarian development.

He expressed hope that the discussions would culminate in a declaration that would guide states toward creating a more coherent, supportive and enabling environment for civil society nationwide.

• PHOTO, L-R: Mr. Idem Akpan Udoekong, Project Manager, CSO Strengthening Bridge (EU CSO-Bridge) Project, International IDEA; Hon. Valentina Enih, Commissioner Ministry Of Children, Gender And Social Development, Enugu State; Hon. Victor Obuzor, Chairman, House Committee on Civil Societies & Development Matters; and Mr. Harry Udoh, Team Lead, Ethics and Good Leadership Awareness Initiative (EGLAI) at the EU-IIDEA CSO-Bridge Strengthening Project National SDA Summit in Abuja on Tuesday