By Praise Chinecherem
Rule of Law and Anti Corruption Programme (RoLAC) has established the Civil Society Organisation and Media Accountability and Anti-Corruption Network on System Strengthening Against Corruption in Anambra State.
The network will act as a veritable tool to amplify citizens’ voices and concerns; provide independent monitoring and oversight of diverse operations of the government; harness the collective power of civil society, advocate for policy reforms, and mobilize citizens to enhance public awareness and education on anti-corruption issues.
The network was established during a meeting of Civil society and media convened by the RoLAC programme Phase II, funded by the European Union and implemented in Nigeria by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IIDEA).
On the occasion, RoLAC’s State Project Coordinator, Mrs Josephine Onah, noted the establishment of the coalition of civil society and media organisations is to further strengthen its campaign against corruption especially in public institutions across the state.
“We are committed to activate every measure that enables accountability and transparency in governance system. Corruption is a big issue in the country which has eroded and depleted our common wealth.
According to her, the CSO and media accountability platform is being set up to look at issues of corruption. Which has become endemic in government business. “Remember, RoLAC 1 supported the state government in putting in place many strategies in fighting corruption including the anti-corruption strategy while we also supported the enactment of the Public Procurement Law. We have done several other things but I must tell you that we are not yet there.
“We discovered that to be able to achieve our goal, we need a platform of Civil society and media that can amplify citizens’ voices and champion the war against corruption. When you amplify your voices, we amplify the voices of the citizens. After this meeting, you begin to advocate for institutional strengthening. The result from reform is like a drop of water in an ocean. But with consistence, we can improve on our current realities,” Onah concluded.
Mrs Onah informed the meeting of a new model that RoLAC conceived for system strengthening for transparency and accountability in the state through coordinated approach under a Service Delivery Transparency Initiatives.
According to her, “this approach is meant to activate service delivery widows in various MDAs with a view of making them effective. RoLAC has engaged with the state to commence service delivery initiatives at 6 model LGAs and 3 health facilities under the Ministry of Health. This is a key area, where leveraging the oversight and monitoring of CSOs and Media partners will be relevant,” she submitted.
The Head of Service of Anambra State, Barrister Theodora Igwegbe, represented by Barrister Tessy Obuekwe, expressed happiness with the initiative and welcome the contributions of the Network in complementing government’s anti-corruption fight.
“The HoS is happy with this gathering which is for the development of the state. she sent her gratitude to RoLAC and International IDEA. The essence is that when corruption eradicated in our system or is reduced to the barest minimum, we as citizens will be better off”.
In a goodwill message, the Convener, Creative Minds for Youth and Community Development, Ugochi Freeman, who spoke on behalf of the CSOs, urged RoLAC to continue with their interventions in the state.
According to Freeman, “it behoves the CSOs and media to ensure that all past achievements by RoLAC are not reversed. We have different capacities to achieve the goal. I encourage us to continue in that spirit. As we engage the government, let us also be the change we want to see. In all these, we must also of necessity carry the communities along”.
Gab Okpalaeke on behalf of the media, noted that the primary role of the media is to champion behavioural change through effective and strategic communication.
“RoLAC through its various interventions had helped to make government officials understand the need to change the ways things are done and to reduce corruption to the barest minimum. I promise that we are going to continue to work
In a presentation on the benefit of coalition in driving positive change, the Programme Manager for the Justice Development and Peace Caritas, JDPC Nnewi, Onyekachi Ololo, noted that apart from amplifying impact and influence, coalition enhances credibility and legitimacy, as well as fosters diversity and inclusivity and improve communication and coordination.
According to him, principles for effective coalition include: trust and mutual respect, open communication and transparency, shared leadership and decision making, flexibility and adaptability as well as evaluation and continue improvement.
“Building blocks of coalition or network building are: clear goals and objectives, strong leadership and facilitation, effective communication and coordination, active participation and engagement and continuous evaluation and improvement,” he explained.
Ugochi Freeman, the Executive Director of Creative Minds for Youth and Community Development, was appointed as the Coordinator of the Civil Society Organisation and Media Accountability and Anti-Corruption Network. She will be deputised by Alfred Ajayi of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria.
Highpoint of the event is the issuance of a communique containing the resolutions of the Network including the determination to work with critical government and non-governmental stakeholders to fight corruption to a standstill in the state.
