2027 Polls: CSJ, FES Demand Economy-Focused Manifestos from Political Parties

2027 Polls: CSJ, FES Demand Economy-Focused Manifestos from Political Parties

By Emmanuel Iyoho 

Participants pose for a group photograph during a stakeholders Forum on Political and Governance Agenda for economy facilitated by Centre for Social Justice CSJ in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung held recently at Sandralia Hotel, Abuja.

The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Nigeria, has called on political parties to make economic governance, fiscal discipline, transparency and accountability the cornerstone of their manifestos and campaign messages ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The advocacy came on Tuesday at the Stakeholders' Forum on Political and Governance Agenda for the Economy held in Abuja, where participants warned that Nigeria's democratic and economic future would remain uncertain unless political campaigns shift from ethnic, religious and personality-driven narratives to practical solutions to the country's economic challenges.

Speaking at the forum, the Lead Director of CSJ, Eze Onyekpere, said Nigeria could no longer afford politics that pays little attention to citizens' welfare, economic growth and prudent management of public resources.

He argued that with rising inflation, unemployment, public debt and poverty, political parties must present credible, costed and implementable economic programmes that clearly demonstrate how they intend to create jobs, stimulate investment, improve public finance management and deliver sustainable development.

According to him, the forum was convened to ensure that economic governance occupies a central place in Nigeria's political discourse ahead of the 2027 elections, while encouraging parties to offer practical policy alternatives capable of addressing the country's socio-economic realities.

Onyekpere urged political leaders to uphold fiscal discipline, strengthen public institutions and embrace transparency and accountability, stressing that Nigerians deserve issue-based campaigns built around realistic economic policies rather than empty rhetoric.

Representing the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, his Senior Special Assistant, Enenede Idusuyi, commended the organisers for initiating what he described as a timely national conversation on economic governance.

She said the APC shares the objectives of the forum, noting that the party's Renewed Hope Agenda places priority on economic diversification, job creation, security, investment promotion and responsible fiscal management.

Also speaking, the Head of Secretariat of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), Fatima Binta Abubakar, who represented the Acting Chairman of the Commission, Charles Chukwuemeka Abana, called for stricter implementation of the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

She observed that weak compliance with fiscal regulations, poor budget implementation and the absence of effective sanctions for violations continue to undermine prudent public finance management and national development.

Abubakar called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, the National Assembly, civil society organisations and development partners to promote transparency, accountability and compliance with fiscal laws.

Participants, drawn from political parties, ministries, departments and agencies, civil society organisations, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) development partners and governance experts, agreed that the 2027 elections present a crucial opportunity to redirect national political discourse towards economic recovery, fiscal sustainability, job creation and improved living standards.

They urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the media and civil society organisations to scrutinise campaign promises and hold elected officials accountable for fulfilling their economic commitments after assuming office.

The forum concluded that sustainable national development would require a shared commitment to economic reforms, stronger institutions, prudent management of public resources and active citizen participation in governance.

Organisers disclosed that recommendations from the deliberations would be compiled into a policy brief for political parties, the National Assembly and other critical stakeholders to encourage issue-based campaigns and promote economic governance as a defining issue in the build-up to the 2027 general elections.