Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC) an NGO with the support of MacArthur Foundation held a Town Hall Meeting to Amplify the Fight against Corruption with a theme: “ACCOUNTABILTY ISSUES IN THE PAYMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT PENSIONERS IN ENUGU STATE “held on 9th September 2023 at BON PLATINUM HOTEL, Enugu, Enugu State. Participants were drawn from the Media, Civil Society Organizations, People with Disabilities (PWD’s), Community Based Organizations, Faith Based Organizations and as well as anti-Corruption agencies, Economic and Financial Crime Commission (the Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Pensioners association and labour leaders. Also in attendance, the Honorable Commissioner of Information, Enugu state. 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: – This communique was made this day 9th September, 2023 at Enugu, Enugu State ZUBAIR ABDURRAUF IDRIS Executive Director/Project Manager
ADAMAWA TOWN HALL MEETING – COMMUNIQUE
Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC) an NGO with the support of MacArthur Foundation held a Town Hall Meeting to Amplify the Fight against Corruption with a theme: “ACCOUNTABILTY IN GOVERNANCE: A PANACEA FOR CITIZENS MISTRUST” held on 19th August 2023 at Virginia Hall, Nurses House, Jimeta-Yola, Adamawa State. Participants were drawn from the Media, Civil Society Organizations, People with Disabilities (PWD’s), Traditional Rulers, Community Based Organizations, Faith Based Organizations and as well as anti-Corruption agency, the Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). 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: – This communique was made this day 19th August 2023 at Jimeta-Yola, Adamawa State ZUBAIR ABDURRAUF IDRIS Executive Director/Project Manager
WAMAC Urges Enugu State Government to Step up Anti-corruption Activities
Anti-corruption crusader, Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre, WAMAC, has hailed Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah for inaugurating a committee on verification and payment of outstanding pensions and Gratuities to retirees. WAMAC a non-governmental organization advocating for good governance and the fight against corruption with the support of the MacArthur Foundation had in an Igbo and Pidgin English broadcast, in June 2023, investigated the plights of state and local government retirees being owed between two and twenty-two months pension. WAMAC, therefore, urges the Enugu state government to act on the findings of the committee and not just clear the pension arrears, but also ensure that any act of corruption detected in the process is made public and offenders brought to book. Similarly, WAMAC welcomes the suspension of activities of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, ECTDA. Recall that “Korokoro Eye” and “Kaosime”, a programmeproduced by WAMAC trained journalists and broadcast on Dream FM Enugu on July 28, have uncovered the issue of multiple taxations on motorists, with touts creating opportunities for themselves to make personal income from Commercial and private car drivers. The activities of touts led to huge unaccounted revenue to the government. WAMAC welcomes the immediate steps taken by the state government on the suspension of activities of ECTDA to stop further corrupt practices in the development authority. We, therefore, call for a thorough investigation to uncover the rotten eggs in the sector. ZUBAIR ABDURRA’UF IDRIS Executive Director/ Team Lead
War Against Corruption and The Takeaways from WAMAC’s Town Hall Meeting in Minna
On 15 April 2023, Wadata Media Advocacy Centre (WAMAC) held a town hall meeting in Minna, the capital of Niger State, Nigeria. Bringing together members of the media, Civil Society organizations, government functionaries, and legal luminaries to brainstorm and review some of the successes the WAMAC team has recorded over the years, and chart a new course in the advocacy for Transparency and Accountability in the Public and Private sector. The event with the theme – “Strengthening Investigative Data-driven Journalism In The Campaign Against Corruption, And Demand For Accountability In Nigeria’s Local Languages” was funded by the MacArthur Foundation. It is against this backdrop that the WADATA Media and Advocacy Centre urged Nigerians to take ownership of the fight against corruption in the country. In his address at the event, Executive Director of WAMAC, Zubair Idris Abdurra’uf said the engagement was “for the betterment of our society and the nation at large”. In his opinion, citizens must always come out to own public projects. “This inability of Nigerians to own projects is what has also made corruption even more endemic. When people began to go after public office holders in the form of open government policies, I think it will also help, also the citizens to participate in the fight against corruption”, he said. Link Between Corruption and Domestic Violence The Guest speaker at the event, Barrister Mairo Mann, presented a paper titled, Social Corruption, Demand for Public Concern and Efforts to End Domestic Violence. Mann who is a director in the Niger State Ministry of Justice on gender-based and domestic violence, said the smallest form of corruption that we know, when we talk about corruption is stealing, diversion of public funds in the hands of few against the majority. She, however, pointed out that corruption is wider than those perceptions. “If we look at it simply to say what is corruption itself, there’s an abuse – an abuse of office, an abuse of an opportunity given to you. So that instead of you to use that opportunity for the purpose that it was given, you are using it to do otherwise. If we look at it in the public sector, in that wise, we would say that you have been entrusted with public funds, with an office, with a description of what to do for the betterment of that society. But you have decided on your own to do otherwise. If we look at it from the domestic aspect, the domestic violence, like I will say, in this scenario, you have also been entrusted with a partner who is supposed to be your wife, who is supposed to be your partner, whom you are supposed to protect. But instead of doing that, what do you do? You turn her into your punching bag. You neglect her. You ignore her and refuse to see her as a partner but you promised to when you went to marry her. “Again, as the journey progresses, you are again blessed with children. These children, we know, are also a gift from God. They are just entrusted to you for a while. And whether a Christian or Muslim, we all believe in the day of resurrection. And we know that Almighty God will ask us, I gave you this, what did you do with it? So that the product of every child is the manifestation of where he or she is coming from. “The manifestation of every society is a manifestation of your family background. That’s the truth. Whatever is the outcome we are seeing today is coming from within. Because your upbringing has so much to impact in the society.” “And so, if we want a reasonable, corruption-free society, we must start working within our own families. It is very important. But most times, people choose to treat issues from the top. And when you cut off a leaf and you don’t treat an issue from the root, it will grow again. So you end up not getting any results”, she noted. Communal Upbringing of Children as an Anti-corruption Measure On his part, a Niger State-based legal practitioner, Barrister Shehu Abdullah said “When we talk about corruption, we see corruption as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. We see corruption as eroding trust, which weakens democracy and hampers the economic growth of every society. Now, when we look at corruption, we only see politicians, public office holders, security men or security agencies, our schools, hospitals, the marketplace, every aspect of our life. Corruption has eaten deep into our daily lives. He, however, said that when making efforts to curb corruption, it has to do with coming back to our grassroots, to our society, to our communities, to our families, to our households, and our parents. “We parents or our parents need to do more by learning how to allow the community help in training of our wards or our children. By not coming out blindly to defend the activities or actions of our children, even when we know that truly he actually committed that offense or that act, but because he’s our son or he’s our daughter or our children, we come out to defend them. Abdullah said communal child upbringing should be taken as a way to reduce crimes in the society “We have to, as a community, as a society, come up. Nobody should tell you he’s my own or he’s, my son. Nobody. No. The moment you give birth to a child, he becomes the problem of the society because when he’s bad, he first affects the nearest neighbors, nearest community, nearest society. So maybe he might decide not even be a problem for his own household or for his own family, but he’ll go out disturbing every other household in that community or in that society, believing that whenever he does something wrong, his parents are there to protect him. The community, I mean the ward heads, have to come up and stand up against
KWARA TOWN-HALL MEETING – COMMUNIQUE
Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC) an NGO, with the support of MacArthur Foundation, held a Town Hall Meeting to amplify the Fight against Corruption in Local Languages with a theme: “Systemic Corruption in Public and Private Sectors: A Deep Dive Into Electricity Sector in Kwara State” held on the 22nd of July, 2023, at NUJ Guest Centre opposite St. Anthony secondary school, Ilorin, Kwara State. Participants were drawn from the Media, Civil Society Organizations, Community-Based Organizations, Religious and Community leaders as well as the National Orientation Agency {NOA}, EFCC, ICPC, Market Women Association and People With Disabilities (PWDs). The town hall meeting identified the following conduits for corruption: 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:- This communique was made this day 22th July, 2023 at Ilorin, Kwara State. ZUBAIR A IDRIS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/PROGRAMMES MANAGER WAMAC
Maiduguri Town Hall Meeting – COMMUNIQUE
Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC) an NGO with the support of MacArthur Foundation held a Town Hall Meeting to Amplify the Fight against Corruption with a 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 (PWD’s), Traditional Rulers, Community Based Organizations, Faith Based Organizations and as well as 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 (SDG’s). 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:- 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
Wadata Media and Advocacy Center Urges Rivers to Address Corruption in Education Sector
In a bid to combat the pervasive issue of corruption in Nigeria’s education sector, the Wadata Media and Advocacy Center (WAMAC) has called upon the Rivers State government and Nigerians at large to take decisive action. With their passionate plea for change, WAMAC aims to address the deeply-rooted corruption that continues to undermine the quality of education and the future of the nation’s youth. Highlighting recent reports that have shed light on the rampant corruption within the education sector, WAMAC stressed the urgent need for all stakeholders to take ownership of the fight against corruption. In particular, the group urged the Rivers State government to prioritize the eradication of corrupt practices that have plagued educational institutions across the state. This clarion call from WAMAC was met with resounding support from concerned citizens and educational experts who recognize the detrimental impact of corruption on Nigeria’s education system. The insidious effects of corrupt practices, such as embezzlement of funds, bribery, and favoritism, have led to dilapidated infrastructure, inadequate teaching materials, and compromised academic standards. Ultimately, these issues directly hinder the student’s learning experience and impede their ability to receive a quality education. With a firm focus on the education sector, WAMAC emphasized the need for increased transparency and accountability in the allocation and utilization of education funds. They implored the government to implement stringent measures that would prevent embezzlement and ensure that resources are effectively channeled towards improving educational infrastructure, providing necessary resources, and enhancing the capacity of teachers. Furthermore, WAMAC stressed the importance of individual responsibility in the fight against corruption. They called upon all Nigerians to actively report corrupt practices, support whistleblowers, and foster a culture of integrity and accountability within their communities. By encouraging a collective effort, WAMAC believes that citizens can play a crucial role in combating corruption and promoting transparency. The message from WAMAC has struck a chord with citizens across the nation who are determined to combat corruption in the education sector. Many have expressed their unwavering support for WAMAC’s initiatives, emphasizing the need for increased collaboration between the government, civil society organizations, and the general public to tackle this pervasive issue. As the fight against corruption gains momentum, it is hoped that the Rivers State government and Nigerians at large will heed the call to action put forth by WAMAC. By prioritizing the eradication of corruption within the education sector and implementing robust measures to ensure transparency and accountability, Nigeria can pave the way for a transformative and corruption-free education system. Through these efforts, the nation can empower its youth and foster sustainable national development that rests upon the pillars of integrity and knowledge.
Akure Town Hall Meeting – COMMUNIQUE
Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC) an NGO, with the support of MacArthur Foundation, held a Town Hall Meeting to amplify the Fight against Corruption in Local Languages with a theme: “Issues of Systemic Corruption In Public and Private Sectors: A Deep Dive Into Ellectricity Sector in Ondo State” held on the 10th of June, 2023, at Continent Hotel, Alagbaka, Akure, Ondo State. Participants were drawn from the Media, Civil Society Organizations, Community-Based Organizations, Religious and Community leaders as well as the National Orientation Agency {NOA}, the Federal Road Safety Corps {FRSC}, Market Women association led by the Iyaloja of Ondo kingdom and People With Disabilities (PWDs). 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:- This communique was made this day 10th June, 2023 at Akure, Ondo State. ZUBAIR A IDRIS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/PROGRAMMES MANAGER
Wamac 3-DAY Workshop 2023
The video is about an investigative journalism workshop hosted by WAMAC and the Macarthur Foundation, aimed at improving transparency and fighting corruption in government systems. The speaker emphasizes the importance of protecting the identities of minors and seeking permission before reporting on sensitive topics in schools and hospitals but also encourages journalists to go undercover when necessary to expose corruption, the importance of data in journalism is also highlighted, with the speaker stressing the need for journalists to dig deep and uncover the story behind the story. Overall, the workshop is seen as a valuable opportunity for journalists to expand their skills and bring about positive change through their reporting.
Nigeria’s 2023 Election Underway
Let’s help make the process credible, peaceful, free and fair. *Your safety matters, so, don’t setup yourself or others for harm or violence. *Go in line with INEC instructions and those of security personnel. *Say NO to CORRUPTION and any other form of electoral malpractice. *Say NO to fake news, misinformation and disinformation. Together, let’s make Nigeria better and greater. Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC)