GNA Launches Citizen-Driven Governance Model as Elusoji Calls on Nigerians to Help Fix Nigeria

The Great Nigerian Assembly (GNA) has launched its GNA CAA Governance Model, a citizen-driven framework designed to promote accountability, monitor development and recognise performance across Nigeria’s local, state and federal levels.

Executive Director of GNA, GN (Dr.) Kayode Elusoji, announced the initiative in his Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary address, urging Nigerians to move beyond asking who will fix the country and instead ask what part of Nigeria they can help fix.

Elusoji said the CAA model, with CAA referring to Coverage Area Administrator, is intended to create a stronger link between citizens and those entrusted with public responsibilities.

According to him, the initiative is non-political, non-governmental and non-religious, and is designed to provide credible evidence about the condition of communities and public infrastructure.

He said the model would rely on Certified Citizen Reporters (CCRs), who will be trained and bound by a code of conduct to observe, document, verify and report conditions in their communities.

“The assignment is in four words: Observe, document, verify and report,” Elusoji said.

He explained that CCR findings would feed into development committees covering areas including infrastructure, health, agriculture, security, youth empowerment and education, before reaching CAA governance committees and advisory structures.

Elusoji said the initiative had already moved beyond planning, noting that 30 young Nigerians from Ife Central and Ife East Local Governments had graduated as pioneer Certified Citizen Reporters in September 2026.

He said the reporters had begun documenting the condition of roads, health centres, schools, markets and other community infrastructure.

The GNA executive director stressed that accountability should not be limited to criticism, arguing that government officials and other contributors who deliver meaningful projects should also receive recognition.

“Where there is neglect, we document it. Where there is delivery, we honour it and celebrate it,” he said.

Using the completion of the Lagere Flyover as an example, Elusoji said the CAA committee’s communication to the governor was framed as a letter of appreciation and encouragement rather than a petition.

He described Ife as the starting point and template for a broader national rollout, saying the ultimate objective is to develop a platform where citizens, governments, legislators, traditional institutions and Nigerians in the diaspora can access verified information about infrastructure and development.

Elusoji announced an ambitious target of training and certifying one million Citizen Reporters across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas within two to three years.

He added that the programme would also help identify and develop young Nigerians in areas such as data analysis, network engineering and artificial intelligence.

He called on Nigerians at home and abroad, corporate organisations, hometown associations, foundations and development partners to support the initiative through funding, membership, training sponsorship and partnerships.

According to him, the GNA platform support and operational fund would be publicly tracked, stressing that “the money that funds accountability must itself be accountable.”

Addressing young Nigerians, Elusoji said participation in the CCR programme could provide digital literacy, data discipline and civic leadership skills while giving young people a practical role in Nigeria’s development.

He also appealed to Nigerians in the diaspora to go beyond financial remittances by contributing professional expertise, technology, skills and networks to national development.

Elusoji said Nigerians could disagree politically or worship differently, but should be able to agree that public resources must produce public value.

He concluded by urging citizens to abandon the mindset of waiting for a perfect president, political party or policy, saying nations are built when ordinary people accept extraordinary responsibility.

“A new Nigeria will not simply arrive. It begins with us. It begins with you today, road by road, school by school, community by community, local government by local government, citizen by citizen,” he said.

The GNA executive director ultimately challenged Nigerians to replace the question, “Who will fix Nigeria?” with a more personal one: “What part of Nigeria can I help to fix?”

The GNA CAA Governance Model was formally declared launched at the conclusion of the address.