THE Nigerian Social Contract, a national campaign seeking to engender democratic accountability, has been launched in Abuja.

The initiative, unveiled on Monday, is the brainchild of Our Mumu Don Do, a civil society movement led by celebrated entertainer and human rights activist, Charles Oputa popularly known as Charly Boy.

It came in a 32-page document that spells out certain commitments at different levels of government from both elected officials and citizens.

Loosely translated as “Na We Get Government”, the contract aims at “transforming Nigerian politics from an instrument of depredation and violations of human rights to an instrument for the entrenchment of freedom and prosperity”.

Addressing newsmen on the sidelines of the event, Oputa said the initiative is about reawakening the consciousness of the masses to their responsibilities in nation-building.

“We are driving this social contract to get the masses, especially young people, to understand that they also have responsibilities.

“They have a responsibility to pay their taxes and be very observant of what is happening in their environment.

“It includes them not being docile, not being ignorant, and to challenge leaders and hold them accountable,” he said.

Oputa explained that the social contract had nothing to do with the current administration, but how Nigerian had been functioning as a country and as a people.

“I have not seen a bunch of people so arrogantly ignorant like Nigerians. We need to wake up. Why is the worst of us leading the best of us?

“This has nothing to do with any political party. We are only interested in people doing the needful and the right thing.

“It’s about leadership being more responsible than it had been in the past,” he added.

Mr Moses Paul, the Convener of Mad Connect, a partner in the movement, said the contract would be enforced through sensitisation and mobilisation of Nigerians to take action.

Describing the document as more important than the Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC), Paul emphasised the need for Nigerians to key into the idea for the country of their dream.(NAN)

– Feb. 11, 2019 @ 17:45 GMT |