WAMAC Identify Ways of Tackling Corruption In Constituency Projects
POLITICS DIGEST – Stakeholders at the Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC) have charted ways that all relevant institutions could work together to fight corruption at various levels of implementing constituency projects in Nigeria.
This is according to a communique issued in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital on Saturday, at the end of a town hall meeting organized by WAMAC to address the challenge.
The communique, which was signed by WAMAC Executive Director, Zubair Abdurrauf Idris, said participants of the meeting were drawn from the Media, Civil Society Organizations, Anti-Corruption Agencies, The EFCC and ICPC People living with Disabilities (PLWD’s), Traditional Rulers, Community Based Organizations, Faith Based Organizations and National Orientation Agency (NOA), the police and other critical stakeholders.
Below are the full recommendations of the meeting as contained in the communique: “At the end of the Town Hall meeting, the following resolutions were made to fast-tract the Fight Against Corruption through Community Participation as follows: –
“The Town Hall Meeting, noted with deep concern the impact of the economy and Infrastructural deficit to the livelihood of citizenry and urged governments to fast tract releases of Budgeted funds to improve the lives and welfare of the people.
“The meeting advocated for effective monitoring and tracking of all Constituency Projects in Akwa-Ibom state by end-users and owned the Constituency Projects sponsored by Legislators. Equally the meeting calls for the immediate amendment of the Nigerian Constitution to remove all potholes in the fight against corruption and election processes.
“The Town Hall meeting in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom called for synergy between Civil Society Organizations, the media and anti-corruption agencies to fight Corruption. Also Participants to give credible information on Corruption issues to anti-Corruption agencies for swift action and prosecution.
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“Participants of the Town Hall Meeting have noted the syndrome of ‘Flamboyant Life’ of few anti-graft personnel and advice the anti-graft agencies to beam its searchlight on its personnel with a view to sanitize the agencies in carrying out their mandate of fighting corruption.
On the abandoned Constituency Project by national legislators, the meeting called for the completion of some of the identified constituency projects by ICPC in Akwa-Ibom state.
“The Meeting advised communities, religious and Community leaders to be vanguards of anti-corruption through advocacy and reportage of corruption issues and wrongdoings on both conventional and Social Media platforms.
“Participants also called on the traditional and community leaders to always place a due diligence and transparent in their domain and avoid falling to the trap of Politically Exposed Persons.
“The Town Hall Meeting identified lack of Inclusiveness of the communities in the design and implementation of projects and urged the Akwa-Ibom state government for inclusiveness of project allocation to cater for Persons With Disability have access to quality education.
“The Town Hall Meeting commends individuals and organizations fighting corruption and calls for an intensification of efforts all stakeholders to curtail the menace and urge for the speedy implementation of WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION POLICY that will encourage people to give credible information on alleged Corruption. Also the meeting call on the CSO and NBA to fast tract and vacate an injunction that prevent anti-corruption agencies to investigate activities of Akwa Ibom government.
“The meeting regretted the prevalence of corruption even in the media, manifesting in the idea of brown envelop where money is packaged and given to journalists before they cover or publish stories. The participants agreed that this must stop. Journalists must work conscientiously because they also have a key and responsible role to play in the development of Nigeria.
“The meeting resolved that journalists, the public and CSOs must make use of the Freedom of Information Act in order to get critical information that will help in the fight against corruption. This will ensure participatory democracy and accountability in governance.
“The meeting agreed the synergy between the media and civil society organizations is one of the strongest collaboration that will help the fight against corruption because the CSOs are knowledge based and the media have the platform and the audience to get across information for fighting corruption,” the communique added.
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