Civil society organizations are celebrating the successful conclusion of two major governance and climate justice programs that played a pivotal role in shaping Nigeria's latest tax reforms and strengthening citizen accountability mechanisms across several states.
Sustained Advocacy Yields Policy Impact
After five years of implementation, Oxfam in Nigeria has formally closed its Power of Voices, Fair for All, and African Activists for Climate Justice programs during a ceremony held in Abuja. The event highlighted how sustained citizen advocacy directly contributed to the passage of Nigeria's new tax legislation.
Oxfam Country Director John Makina described the initiative as a collective effort to position communities at the heart of governance and economic decision-making processes. "The projects have demonstrated that when properly supported, local voices can significantly influence reforms in tax justice, climate action, and public accountability," Makina stated.
Tangible Environmental and Economic Gains
The programs delivered measurable environmental benefits, including the cultivation of 15,500 seedlings through community nurseries and the distribution of 3,500 clean cooking stoves in Bauchi State. Additionally, 256 volunteers, including persons with disabilities, received training in briquette production and other nature-based solutions.
Women participants particularly benefited from climate-friendly enterprises, earning between ₦150,000 and ₦300,000 from their initiatives. The advocacy work also contributed to the development of new climate legislation and unlocked ₦15.5 billion in local climate finance.
Strengthening Tax Justice Movements
Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), emphasized that the tax reforms represent one of the clearest examples of how coordinated civic pressure can influence policy at both federal and state levels.
"The programs significantly strengthened tax justice movements, expanded platforms for state-level advocacy, and improved compliance with beneficial ownership rules in the extractive sector," Rafsanjani explained.
This persistent advocacy helped shape four newly approved tax laws and encouraged government approval of more than $1 billion for upgrading major ports infrastructure.
Through media platforms like Follow the Money, the initiatives reached more than ten million Nigerians while supporting broader civic participation through youth clubs, FOI coalitions, and improved security engagement with police authorities.
Oxfam Programme Manager Henry Ushie noted that the project helped communities understand and demand the statutory 3% allocation that companies are required to provide to host communities. Citizens were also empowered to track how these funds were deployed, ensuring greater transparency and accountability.
Despite these achievements, Rafsanjani issued a cautionary note, warning that although donor funding has ended, communities must now protect the gains made. He emphasized that inequalities, corruption, and climate pressures remain widespread and require continued vigilance.
Makina expressed appreciation to partner organizations including CISLAC, Connected Development, and BudgIT, as well as the Government of the Netherlands for funding the five-year initiative that has demonstrated the power of citizen movements in driving meaningful policy change.
