By Doyin Ojosipe
The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) on Thursday, January 30, 2020 began another round of engagement on creating awareness among Nigerians on the whistleblowing policy.
The fresh round of nationwide engagement involves training of Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and local Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on how they can make use of the whistleblowing policy to advocate against corrupt activities in their communities.
The campaign which commenced with a capacity building workshop for CBOs and CSOs in Cross River and Akwa-Ibom states was another step taken in line with AFRICMIL’s Corruption Anonymous (CORA) project, supported by the MacArthur Foundation.
Dr Chido Onumah, Coordinator of AFRICMIL noted that, Nigerians could easily hold their leaders accountable if they are observant enough, by monitoring community projects to ensure their representatives are brought to book when they engage in fraudulent practices instead of delivering the dividends of democracy, as expected.
He said, “Our goal is to introduce local CSOs and CBOs across the country, starting with Cross River and Akwa Ibom States on how they can use the whistleblowing mechanism in demanding for accountability and exposing corruption at the grassroots.
“These organisations have a stake whether it is monitoring constituency projects, reporting on abandoned projects or abuse of office by political actors at the state and local government levels.”
Onumah reiterated that the anti-corruption fight could not have been a government fight alone as those affected most by corrupt practices of few individuals are the teaming Nigerians.
“As Nigerians, we must be aware that the fight against corruption is not one to be left for the government alone. We all have roles to play, and this is what the whistleblowing policy seeks to ensure” he said.
In his presentation, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, AFRICMIL’s programme manager said Corruption was directly responsible for; Poverty and deprivation, under-development, economic stagnation and insecurity including the rise in social vices.
He emphasized that the anti-corruption corruption fight should be owned by citizens as both resources used by the government and or stolen by corrupt individuals belongs to the people.
He added that Nigerians could take back their destiny, communities and country by participating in the anti-graft war.
Abdulaziz urged the CBOs and CSOs to educate the people in their various communities on whistleblowing and anti corruption fight. He said, “As representatives of the people, you have to take the information down to the grassroots. Many people don’t have adequate information about Whistleblowing policy and how it works.”
Explaining the role of government and the place for citizen participation, the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu represented by Mrs Theresa Nwosu, Head, Public Affairs Department of the Commission, Uyo Office, said while it is the sole duty of the commission to investigate and prosecute corrupt individuals, it was the duty of citizens to expose any form of corruption noticed around them.
She said, “Corruption has defied every solution thrown at it and is still spreading like cancer; Nigerians must come to the realisation that they are the ones that suffer more if it is allowed to continue to fester.”
Similarly, the Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof Bolaji Owasanoye who was represented by Mr Lawrence Abuo said the commission had tried to engage Nigerians on the need to own the anti-corruption fight, by launching a campaign to foster the recovery of stolen public funds.
He noted that , “Due to the commission’s engagement, the ICPC has been able to launch a nationwide community enlightenment and initiative called ‘My Constituency my Project’ and has saved up to N2 billion in recovery of diverted project.”
He said the anti-graft war could only be won if Nigerians give in their support.
Mrs Florence Osang, the State Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), said Nigerians must have a change of attitude for the success of the graft war and for their good.
“Nigerians need to love Nigeria and be patriotic in the fight against corruption, don’t change because you feel you are alone in the battle”, she said.
