Politics
A Non-Governmental Organisation, Aid Foundation, on Monday began massive mobilisation of residents of Kaduna State for Upright for Nigeria Campaign to stand against all forms of corruption in the state.
Its Executive Director, Mr Emmanuel Bonet, made this known in Zaria, at the opening of Training of Trainers for 87 residents, one from each of the political wards in Kaduna North Senatorial District.
Bonet explained that the campaign was supported by Action Aid, with Funding from United Kingdom Agency for International Development, under Strengthening Citizens Resistance Against Prevalence of Corruption (SCRAP-C).
He explained that a total of 255 persons, one from each of the 255 political wards in the state would be trained as volunteers, who would serve as champions for Upright for Nigeria Campaign against corruption at wards level.
He said that the 255 trainees would in turn train no fewer than 50 persons from each political ward with a view to mobilise, sensitise and enlist all residents in the crusade.
He added that the volunteers would also establish Ward Integrity Committees in each of the political ward to support in addressing unresolved developmental needs and incidence of corruption at wards level.
According to him, the objective of the training was to build the capacity of volunteers to resist and act against all forms of corruption and change citizens’ perception and attitude towards legitimising corruption.
“Another key objective is to facilitate the establishment of the Ward Integrity Committees and increase reporting of corruption cases by citizens as well as the media.
“But to achieve this, the residents must be sensitise on government reforms, particularly Community Development Charter (CDC), Open Government Partnership (OGO) and Upright for Nigeria.
“The people need to know about these and many other reforms and how they can participate to tap from the huge benefits.”
Bonet explained that the CDC provides communities the opportunity to prioritise their development needs to be captured in the state annual budget for implementation.
He also described the OPG as an initiative that promotes citizens participation in governance, transparency and accountability, urging the citizens to get involve through various available platforms.
On Upright for Nigeria Campaign, the executive director said that enlisting residents to join the anti-corruption campaign would greatly reduce the incidence of corruption in Nigerian communities.
He added that zonal town hall meetings would also be organised to interact with citizens and mobilise them to get involve in the Upright for Nigeria Campaign.
He said that the meetings would be organised in partnership with Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission, Kaduna Electric and the Police.
Others are Ministries of health, education and Justice, National Orientation Agency as well as Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service.
One of the participants, Malam Suleiman Sule, acknowledged that the larger population of the people, particularly in rural areas had little or no idea of what government was doing.
According to him, sensitising the people at the grassroots will empower the people to know what the government is doing and how they can participate, especially in the CDC, OGP and the fight against corruption.
NAN
– Sept. 9, 2019 @ 15:00 GMT |
Tags: NGO mobilises Kaduna residents to strengthen anti-corruption crusade
