Borno stakeholders commit to effective fight against corruption –communique

Stakeholders comprising the media, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), security agencies, religious and traditional rulers in Borno, have resolved to unite to fight against corruption more effectively.

The resolution was contained in a communique issued to newsmen on Sunday in Maiduguri, after a town hall meeting on anti-corruption organised by an NGO, Wadata Media Advocacy Centre ( WAMAC), in collaboration with MacArthur Foundation.

“Participants recognised that fighting the menace of corruption and promotion of good governance is a collective responsibility of all citizens.

“Participants agreed to intensify their efforts through reporting of corruption issues, by adopting the ”Whistle Blower” policy and advocate for scrutiny of individuals by the community and religious leaders.

”They also seek to stop the practice of honouring people with questionable character, with titles.

“Participants called for a change of attitude, and urge speedy trial of alleged corruption cases in various courts.

“The Town Hall meeting also called for a structural change in the fight against corruption notably; fighting corruption from homes, by inculcating moral behaviour of piety, truthfulness and fairness in all spheres of life,” the communique stated.

It added that the stakeholders also proposed forming anti-corruption clubs within communities to fight corruption while urging the media to campaign vigorously on the dangers of corruption.

The participants also advocated for an ‘offenders register’ that would name and shame all convicted corrupt persons, irrespective of their political and religious standing.

The communique further urged anti-corruption agencies to interface with journalists periodically and provide them with information and data of convictions of corrupt persons, and to communities to monitor and report wrongdoings in the execution of projects in their localities.

The Town Hall meeting, which was also attended by government officials including those from the EFCC Maiduguri zonal office, had as its theme: ‘Community Participation In The Fight Against Corruption In Nigeria Using Local Language’, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)