Civic Responsibility

Civic Responsibility is defined as the "responsibility of a citizen" (Dictionary.com). It is comprised of actions and attitudes associated with democratic governance and social participation. Civic responsibility can include participation in government, church, volunteers and memberships of voluntary associations. Actions of civic responsibility can be displayed in advocacy for various causes, such as political, economic, civil, environmental or quality of life issues. According to John D. Rockefeller Jnr., Civic Responsibility is the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force; "we must instill a sense of duty in our children"; "every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty".

Breaking it down:

Civic means, "of, relating to, or belonging to a city, a citizen, or citizenship, community or civil society"

Responsibility refers to "the state or quality of being responsible or something for which one is responsible such as a duty, obligation or burden"

A citizen is "a person owing loyalty to and entitled by birth or naturalization to the protection of a state or union"

Citizenship means "a productive, responsible, caring and contributing member of society."

Importance
The importance of civic responsibility is paramount to the success of democracy and philanthropy. By engaging in civic responsibility, citizens ensure and uphold certain democratic values as written in the Constitution. Those values or duties include justice, freedom, equality, diversity, authority, privacy, due process, property, participation, truth, patriotism, human rights, rule of law, tolerance, mutual assistance, self restraint and self respect. Schools teach civic responsibility to students with the goal to produce responsible citizens and active participants in community and government.

Need I say more...

Viewpoint: Voting in elections most important civic responsibility

The Nigerian Constitution places the power to govern our country in the hands of our elected leaders or representatives. But this power is temporarily returned to us, the people, at regular intervals - each election day. Our Constitution discusses the election process extensively, and its authors set the electoral responsibility squarely on the shoulders of each citizen. Our founding fathers clearly intended that we should accept this responsibility without hesitation and dutifully exercise it by electing suitable representatives and officers. To ignore this responsibility is to declare to our founding fathers that they should not have been so foolish as to entrust us with the maintenance of our rights and freedoms. Ignoring our responsibility to vote is, by default, to vote for tyranny and poverty. Voting is one of the most important and fundamental rights we share as Nigerian citizens. We all have a responsibility to take it seriously.

In conclusion, I want to implore you to participate in the voters' registration (now), get your voter's card and vote for your preferred credible candidate in the April 2011 general elections.

Nigeria will make it...YOU will make it.