Policy Alert

20/06/2026

Policy Alert recently engaged the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly during public hearings on three crucial bills that directly impact the lives, livelihoods, and rights of citizens of Akwa Ibom.

Our memorandum on the bills is summarized below:

1. The Fiscal Responsibility Bill: We posited that a true fiscal governance framework must prioritize public scrutiny over executive discretion. True accountability means linking public spending to open contracting giving citizens an insight into how contracts are awarded and implemented.

2. The Office of the Public Defender (OPD) Bill:
Citizen's ability to access justice determines whether the law protects every citizen equally, or only those who can afford it. We advocated for a completely independent OPD that is accountable and capable of defending vulnerable residents, against any institutions.

3. The Water User Association (WUA) Bill: Grassroot economic activity as agriculture relies on irrigation infrastructure in addition to citizens' rights to clean water. We are standing with farmers and smallholders pressing for water associations to remain member-governed, giving local communities real authority over the resources their livelihoods depend on.

Laws should never be all about regulating public life alone it should strengthen the social contract between the government and the people.

We commend the House for this opportunity for participatory governance and remain committed to advocating for a transparent, citizen-centered legislative framework.

18/06/2026

Last week, Policy Alert joined the Ikot Ekpene Local Government Council for a town hall on Governance and Citizens Engagement.
The Chairman of Ikot Ekpene LGA was represented by the Vice Chairman, Elder Victoria. Community members participated thoughtfully, local leadership was present.

What stood out most?
Four persons with disabilities were in the room, including one participant who is deaf and non-verbal, and every single one engaged and contributed fully to the conversation. And that's what inclusive civic space looks like.

Governance works better when everyone has a seat at the table and a voice in the room.

Naijayouthfund

16/06/2026

When a community lacks clean water and safe sanitation, it is the children who bear the heaviest burden.

It means walking miles to fetch water instead of hours spent learning in a classroom. It means children missing out on the joy and potential of early childhood. It means high risk and susceptibility to preventable health challenges.

Securing first a safe environment and sustainable Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure isn't just about resource allocation.

It is a matter of child rights, safety, and human dignity.

We implore duty bearing institutions to move beyond mere words to real provision of a safe environment and a sustainable WASH infrastructure for the African Child.

15/06/2026

In 27 years, we have watched Nigeria's democracy evolve, celebrating the milestones and confronting the challenges. But in all these years, youth representation has been critically low, currently hovering at just 3.9% in the current legislative cycle for National Assembly.

State Houses of Assembly so far boasts of youth securing about 9.2% of seats nationwide and 0% for the Senate.

Democracy is built, shaped, and sustained by people who show up.

Youths you aren't just observers of this democratic journey you are its architects, its champions, and the very future it must serve.

Your vote is your voice. Your story is your power. Your participation is your right.
It’s time to claim your place at the table.

Don't wait until it's too late!
Get your PVC and get involved!

12/06/2026

Democracy @27 what was, what is and what is to be done?

Democracy was originally envisioned as a framework meant to serve the people by delivering essential public services like reliable infrastructure, employment opportunities, and functional healthcare and educational systems.

However, what plays out currently is a shift into a system marked by unfulfilled promises and a severe representation gap, where young people with statistical majority of the population, remain largely unheard and excluded from the tables of decision.

This week, young people from across Etinan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, filled the room as Policy Alert hosted a Youth Convening to mark Democracy Day. The conversations quickly became far more than a typical civic exercise; it was an honest analysis and experience sharing moment on the state of the nation.

Facilitated by Edidiong Dickson, the session opened into a frank conversation about what democracy has and hasn’t delivered to Nigeria's youth. Examining the state of infrastructures, increased unemployment to staggering healthcare systems, participants spoke about the daily realities Nigerian Youths are tired of living with.

The conversation didn’t stop at issues. Sharing a powerful challenge to the room, Idorenyin Eyo, reminded all of a glaring truth: with youth making up 61 percent of Nigeria's population, despair is luxury youths simply cannot afford.

The numbers themselves speak. The absolute majority of this nation is young, yet that majority remains largely unheard at the tables where decisions are made.

As Nigeria marks Democracy Day @ 27 today June 12, 2026, that is exactly what must change.

Youths cannot anchor the significance of democracy in dates on a calendar alone.
It must be anchored in the lived concerns, active inclusion and provision of the promises to the people it is meant to serve.

08/06/2026

The tide is turning, but the Niger Delta is still drowning in pollution.

This World Oceans Day 2026, we must look beyond what is and fight for what should be. A true blue economy cannot coexist with oil spills and ruined aquatic life.

It’s time to stop the pollution, enforce strict environmental protections, and rewrite the story of the Niger Delta's waters. Our ocean, our life, our responsibility.

05/06/2026

Our planet is not just a resource where we tap from its richness, it is our lifeline, our heritage, and our shared responsibility.

As we commemorate World Environmental Day 2026, the theme implores us all to be inspired by nature, acting decisively for our climate and for the generations to come.

It is a call to move beyond rhetoric and commit to tangible actions that protect our ecosystems.

At Policy Alert, our commitment to environmental sustainability and ecological justice, advocacy for a healthier and more sustainable and just planet for all remains unflinching.

Happy

03/06/2026

We are LIVE! on Xl1069.fm

Tune in now!

Hello Ctizens,

Are you aware that beyond the numbers and the climate statistics, there is a real human story unfolding in communities?

Methane emissions are not just an environmental issue they are a direct threat to the health, livelihoods, and futures of the people in the Niger Delta.

Join the conversation about lives and human rights to a safe environment, as Head, Energy, Extractives and Climate Justice Programme at Policy Alert, Edidiong Dickson will be breaking down "The Human & Social Cost of Methane Emission in the Niger Delta".

Coming up tonight on 📻 Xl1069.fm

⏰ Time 7:30 PM.


Natural Resource Governance Institute

03/06/2026

Policy Alert has successfully hosted impactful townhall meetings in Ikono and Ibesikpo LGAs of Akwa Ibom State. Supported by the Naijayouthfund, this initiative bridged the gap between citizens and local council representatives to tackle critical grassroots issues, including primary healthcare, vocational education, Trunk C roads, and local economic development.

To ensure sustainable impact, further our commitment to building accountable institutions and deepening democratic governance across Nigeria, we shared the Local Government Administration Handbook to practically guide elected officials deliver transparent, accountable, and inclusive services, with a strong focus on disability inclusion and citizen participation.

We laud both council representatives and citizens for the collaborations and commitment to maintain this forum as a channel for civic engagement.

03/06/2026

Hello Ctizens,

Are you aware that beyond the numbers and the climate statistics, there is a real human story unfolding in communities?

Methane emissions are not just an environmental issue they are a direct threat to the health, livelihoods, and futures of the people in the Niger Delta.

Join the conversation about lives and human rights to a safe environment, as Head, Energy, Extractives and Climate Justice Programme at Policy Alert, Edidiong Dickson will be breaking down "The Human & Social Cost of Methane Emission in the Niger Delta".

Coming up tonight on 📻 Xl1069.fm

⏰ Time 7:30 PM.


Natural Resource Governance Institute