By Ladi Josh, Maiduguri
The Stakeholders have decried allegations of unwholesome behaviours of some Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) fronted by government officials to siphon resources meant for displaced persons and the vulnerable while calling on the people to report any such wrongdoing to anti-corruption agencies.
The project was funded by MacArthur Foundation and implemented by Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC) in collaboration with Federal Radio Cooperation of Nigeria Peace FM Maiduguri.
This was contained in a communique after a one-day town hall meeting with the theme ” Corruption in Governmental and Non-Governmental Organisations in the post insurgency recovery era in Borno State” organized by Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC) held in Maiduguri on Saturday.
The Executive Director and Project Manager Zubair Abdurra’uf Idris noted that communities were obliged to monitor and report wrongdoings in the execution of projects in their localities.
COMMUNIQUE
Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC) an NGO with the support of the MacArthur Foundation held a Town Hall Meeting to Amplify the Fight against Corruption with the theme: “Corruption in Governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations in The post-Insurgency Era in Borno State” held on 24th June 2023 at Amada International Hotel, Old GRA Maiduguri, Borno State.
Participants were drawn from the Media, Civil Society Organizations, People with Disabilities (PWDs), Traditional Rulers, Community-Based Organizations, Faith Based Organizations and as well as an anti-corruption agency (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). Also in attendance was the representative of the Special Assistant to The Governor of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
At the end of the Town Hall meeting the following resolutions were made to fast-track the Fight Against Corruption through Community Participation as follows:-
Participants recognized the role of traditional institutions and Faith-Based Organizations to fight the menace of corruption and the promotion of good governance as the collective responsibility of all citizens.
The Town Hall Meeting urged traditional institutions to scrutinise undeserving government officials and individuals with traditional titles and also strive to hold themselves accountable and uphold good virtues and cultural norms of the society.
The meeting acknowledged the efforts of Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) and the ‘honest’ approach in the post-insurgency era and called on the general public, Internally Displaced Persons to report any act of wrongdoings by the NGOs.
The Stakeholders at the Town Hall meeting also call for a ‘Structural Change’ in the fight against corruption as a collective responsibility to fight the cankerworm called CORRUPTION truthfully and fairness to all.
Participants attributed corruption as a Global phenomenon and advocated ways in which Nigerians, particularly North Eastern Nigerians who suffered due to insurgency take issues of Corruption in the post-insurgency era with utmost seriousness.
The meeting decried allegations of unwholesome behaviours of some Non-governmental Organizations (NGO’s) fronted by government officials to siphon resources and launder them to the detriment of the larger society and called on people to report any acts of wrongdoings by NGOs to anti-corruption agencies especially EAGLE EYE APP of EFCC and the ICPC.
Also, the meeting called for proper scrutiny of activities NGO’s for probity and accountability,
Participants also advocated for community journalism to highlight the plight of returning IDPs in their various communities and also reported activities of NGOs in the local communities to curtail any nefarious activities by the NGOs.
The meeting commends Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC) and MacArthur Foundation for their resilience in the fight against corruption and the promotion of good governance in Nigeria.
Finally, communities were obliged to monitor and report wrongdoings in the execution of projects in their localities.
At the end of the Town Hall meeting, Radio Nigeria, Peace FM Radio, Maiduguri a partner radio station of WAMAC on the fight against Corruption through local Languages in Kanuri or Hausa and advised people to speak out on issues of corruption in their communities.
This communique was made this day 24th June 2023 at Maiduguri, Borno State
ZUBAIR ABDURRAUF IDRIS
Executive Director/Project Manager
