Since Nigeria’s return to democracy nearly 26 years ago, the legislative arm, often considered the cornerstone of democracy, has struggled to fully establish itself as a true representative of the people. This disconnect has hindered the relationship between lawmakers and citizens, as effective representation goes beyond numbers; it involves meaningful communication, addressing concerns, and ensuring that the voices of the people are heard in government. As Yiaga Africa (2019) emphasized, “representation is an important function of the legislature which is central to democratic development.” Effective representation not only involves ensuring proportional presence of constituencies in office but also building a deeper connection with the people, advocating for their needs, and ensuring government actions reflect their interests.
One key element to ensuring this level of representation is through constituency outreach – frequent interactions between legislators and the people they serve. While constituency offices have been established across Nigeria to facilitate such outreach, a significant number remain either unknown, non-functional, or poorly managed. A 2019 Yiaga Africa study revealed that only a tiny fraction of constituents were aware of their representatives’ constituency offices, indicating a severe gap in engagement.
In response to this challenge, Yiaga Africa, with support from the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Programme (EU-SDGN), designed the Constituency Office Internship Program (COIP) to integrate youth into these offices. The program aims to strengthen the relationship between elected representatives and their constituents, improving the responsiveness of constituency offices. Through this initiative, young interns have been deployed across various offices, actively shaping the democratic landscape by enhancing grassroots engagement and giving citizens a platform to have their voices heard.