Town Hall Urges Greater Community Participation to Safeguard Public Infrastructures

Anti-corruption crusader, Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC) has stepped up its ongoing initiatives to engage local communities in Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive, fostering the values of transparency and integrity at the grassroots level.

As part of its activities for the third quarter of 2024, WAMAC organized a Townhall Meeting in Yola, the capital of Adamawa State, North East of Nigeria.

 The programme with support from the MacArthur Foundation paid attention to “Safeguarding Public Infrastructure Against Corrupt Practices: The Role of the Community”.

The event drew participants from various sectors, including media professionals, civil society organizations, community-based organizations, religious and community leaders, and representatives from anti-corruption other government agencies.

C:\Users\hp\Desktop\Nonye from old WAMAC HP July 12 2023 3\THMs\THMs 2024\8. Adamawa THM 2024 August 3 2024\Pictures Adamawa THM 2024\WAMAC ED Zubair A Idris 1 Adamawa THM 2024.jpg

Zubair Abdurra’uf, Executive Director of WAMAC raised concerns about the severe consequences of corruption in public infrastructure which could lead to wasted resources, safety hazards, and eroding public trust in the government. According to Idris, corrupt practices such as embezzlement, bribery, nepotism, and cronyism often result in poorly constructed projects, inadequate maintenance, and inefficient services.  

He, however, encouraged a community-driven approach to protecting public infrastructure from corruption. 

“By working together, we can prevent corruption and ensure that our public infrastructure serves the public interest.

“To achieve this, we must prioritize transparency and accountability, engage in active citizenship, support whistleblowers and reporting mechanisms, promote ethical leadership and governance, and build a culture of integrity,” Idris said

The call for greater community participation in safeguarding infrastructure reflects a growing consensus that tackling corruption at the grassroots level is essential for Nigeria’s continued development.

C:\Users\hp\Desktop\Nonye from old WAMAC HP July 12 2023 3\THMs\THMs 2024\8. Adamawa THM 2024 August 3 2024\Pictures Adamawa THM 2024\Prof Bashir Aliyu - Guest Speaker 1 Adamawa THM 2024.jpg

Prof. Bashir Aliyu in his speech as the guest speaker acknowledged the part played by public infrastructure towards facilitating economic development of the country. The Director, Health, Safety, and Environment, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board/Modibbo Adama University of Technology Yola, advised that community involvement should include tracking threats to the community and coordinating with local law enforcement agents to supervise and secure the infrastructure.

“The already provided infrastructure needs to be safeguarded and looked after to allow new development take place.

“Government expenditure on infrastructure is huge. Budgetary provisions for expansion, maintenance and upgrade are also high. Therefore, safeguarding them against any form of corruption will help in extending their lifespan, Safety etc. it will also free up additional revenues generated for other public good.” Prof. Aliyu explained. 

The Town Hall participants gave a strong commitment to stepping up the fight against corruption through collaborative efforts between the government, community members, and institutions. 

The meeting, which aimed to strengthen the fight against corruption at the grassroots level, concluded with several key resolutions aimed at fostering community involvement in safeguarding public resources.

C:\Users\hp\Desktop\Nonye from old WAMAC HP July 12 2023 3\THMs\THMs 2024\8. Adamawa THM 2024 August 3 2024\Pictures Adamawa THM 2024\Participants Adamawa THM 2024 .jpg

Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)

The Town Hall solicited for the inclusion of PWDs in the fight against corruption, recognizing that their participation would help achieve greater societal development.

Accountability, Good Governance and Collective Responsibility in Fighting Corruption 

Participants expressed strong disapproval of community complicity in aiding and abetting corruption. 

They urged citizens to take a stand and actively prevent corruption to secure a brighter future for coming generations. The Town Hall emphasized the need for citizens to demand accountability from leaders and shun the glorification of individuals exposed for corrupt practices. 

Attendees called for a shift in public attitudes towards corruption, urging effective management of public resources for the greater good. Landlords and property agents were also encouraged to contribute to reducing “social corruption” by protecting tenants’ rights.

The participants reaffirmed that promoting good governance is the collective responsibility of all Nigerians and urged communities to collaborate with security agencies by providing credible intelligence and forming community watch groups to help protect public infrastructure.

They also called for thorough scrutiny of budget allocations and their implementation, particularly in infrastructure maintenance, expansion, and upgrade to reduce the financial burden on governments.

Speedy Trials and Whistleblowing 

The meeting advocated for faster prosecution of corruption cases in Nigeria. They encouraged communities to monitor and report wrongdoings in project execution using whistleblowing mechanisms provided by anti-corruption agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and ICPC. Also, participants talked about the need to strengthen institutional capacity, foster greater cooperation among stakeholders, and utilize the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) to hold public officials accountable.

Local Language Advocacy

WAMAC partners with Radio Nigeria Fombina FM Radio in the state to co-produce an investigative anti-corruption programme in Fulfude, and this earned them a commendation, with the funder, the MacArthur Foundation also. The Centre co-produces programmes with twelve radio stations in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria in seven local languages, but the Town Hall participants called for the expansion of anti-corruption campaigns into other Nigerian languages to reach a wider audience.  

Contact Info

Quick Links

Radio Programs

Press Release

News

Videos

Gallery

Support Links

About Us

Our Works

Our Mission

Our Vision

Our Results

Languages

Hausa

Yoruba

Igbo

Fulani

Kanuri

Baruba

Pidgin English

© 2022 Wadata Media & Advocacy Centre (ICT)