The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is on track to becoming the most extensively documented presidency in the history of Africa, according to The Citizens Project, a civic advocacy group. This assertion was made by Dr. Sam Okey Nwosu, the chief facilitator and co-convener of the project, in an official statement.
Dr. Nwosu disclosed that since President Tinubu’s inauguration on May 29, 2023, The Citizens Project has been closely monitoring, recording, and archiving the administration’s key activities.
These include major policy decisions, reforms, appointments, economic initiatives, and strategic national interventions. Unlike formal government record-keeping systems, this initiative is entirely citizen-driven, positioning itself as an independent mechanism to bolster transparency, accountability, and public scrutiny within the democratic process.
At the heart of this initiative is a proprietary framework known as The Reform Index™—an evolving, structured catalogue designed to systematically capture and highlight significant reforms introduced under the Tinubu administration.
According to Dr. Nwosu, this index provides detailed insights into transformational policies such as the controversial but pivotal removal of fuel subsidies, sweeping currency reforms, critical regional development agendas, and key judicial appointments that have reshaped the judiciary’s landscape.
Expanding on the group’s activities, Nwosu stated that the initiative is active in all 36 states of Nigeria, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. This nationwide spread ensures a holistic and comprehensive approach to tracking the pulse of governance at both federal and state levels.
Importantly, Dr. Nwosu clarified that the objective of The Citizens Project is not to serve as a government watchdog solely for criticism, nor to act as an agency of praise. Instead, its mission is rooted in ensuring that governance is visible, measurable, and subject to continuous public evaluation.
“This effort is not about singing praises or leveling criticisms. It is fundamentally about visibility in governance—making sure that Nigerians are not only participants during elections but remain engaged and observant of what elected officials are doing with the mandate they’ve been given,” Nwosu remarked.
He stressed that this form of civic vigilance is essential for the sustainability of democracy, where the electorate maintains a steady focus on how public policies and leadership decisions affect their lives, rather than retreating into political apathy after elections.
Reflecting on the future, Dr. Nwosu noted that while the long-term outcomes of Tinubu’s reforms are yet to fully manifest, the administration is already positioned to leave an indelible mark in Nigeria’s political history through the sheer volume and depth of its documentation.
“Regardless of one’s political stance, what is undeniable is that this presidency will stand as one of the most recorded and scrutinised in African history,” he asserted.
Adding further weight to the project’s credibility and reach, Dr. Nwosu revealed that respected traditional leaders have thrown their support behind The Citizens Project. Notable among them are His Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, the Ooni of Ife, and His Royal Highness, Alhaji Nasir Ado Bayero, OFR, the Emir of Bichi.
Their patronage signifies a unifying commitment to fostering deeper civic awareness and holding leadership accountable, transcending political, ethnic, and regional divides.
The Citizens Project believes that by bridging the gap between leadership and citizens through systematic documentation and public engagement, Nigeria’s democracy can evolve beyond the traditional four-year electoral cycles into a more continuous, participatory, and transparent governance culture.
This initiative underscores an important shift in the democratic landscape of Africa’s most populous nation—where citizens are no longer passive observers but active custodians of the democratic process, ensuring that leaders deliver on their mandates under the attentive gaze of an informed populace.