AU, ECOWAS, others attend civil society dialogue in Abuja

The Regional Citizens Dialogue Programme (RCDP), an initiative for preventing and responding to Unconstitutional Change of Government (UCG) in West Africa, opens in Abuja today.

Already, representatives from the AU African Peer-Review Mechanism (APRM); the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS); the West African Democracy Solidarity Group (WADEMOS); the Commissioner, Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS); the Portuguese Ambassador to Nigeria, Paulo Martins dos Santos, among others, have confirmed attendance.

Leaders of the RCDP initiative are also scheduled to pay a courtesy call on the leadership of the National Assembly today.

Participants at the launch of the RCDP, a two-day programme, are expected from civil society groups in West Africa and other parts of the continent, including representatives of regional agencies and institutions in Europe.

In a letter of invitation to the participants, the Director General, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, Nigeria, Prof Ayo Omatayo, said the RCDP was a collaborative effort of a consortium of civil societies and research think, NIPSS.

Others are the Regional Centre for Governance and Security Policy Initiative (RCGSPI) with headquarters in Freetown, Sierra Leone; and the Dantiye Centre for Good Leadership and Journalism (DCLJ), Kano, with support from the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID) based in Lisbon, Portugal.