By Idowu Isamotu.

Ahead of 2019 general elections, two leading Digital Rights groups, Paradigm Initiative and Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) have charged candidates of all political parties to adopt electronic governance (e-governance) with a view to curbing corruption in the country.

Speaking during a media parley in Abuja on Tuesday, The Program Manager, Digital Rights, Mr Adegoke Adeboye and Communication Officer of CITAD, Mrs Salma Abdulwaheed stated that the only way to curb corruption, which has eaten deep, and been a ‘cankerworm’, is to adopt e-governance.

Adeboye disclosed to newsmen that the Paradigm Initiative and CITAD, in conjunction with McArthur Foundation have been working collectively to promote institutional framework and approaches to anti-corruption and transparency efforts.

“As part of our work and advocacy for an open internet, we are supporting efforts at institutionalizing accountability, transparency and the fight against corruption through the positive adoption of technology by government institutions in service delivery.

“Riding on the momentum of upcoming elections, we are pushing for the commitment to and adoption of e-governance frameworks by politicians and public office holders on the subject of accountability and anti-corruption.

“The central theme of our advocacy is to bring attention to the subject of e-governance as an effective and veritable tool for anti-corruption and transparency efforts in Nigeria.

“We are calling on those contesting the 2019 elections and the incumbents to commit to and adopt e-governance in order to foster transparency and accountability,” Adeboye said.

He also dismissed insinuations from some government officials that if President Buhari assents to Digital Rights Bill, which was passed into law by National Assembly, it will promote hate speeches and other immoral acts.

He explained that the Bill contains punishment to nail offenders of hate speeches, adding that it is pertinent for those contesting 2019 elections and the incumbents to commit to and adopt e-governance.

Corroborating PI’s Program Manager, Mrs Abdulwaheed lamented how many political parties, especially the major ones, shy away from committing or even engaging CSOs in promoting their anti-corruption efforts.

She further expressed what CITAD went through when issue relating to e-governance was mentioned for some government agencies and political parties, adding that it is worrisome they don’t like to get involved in the conversation surrounding e-governance.

By  Jerrywright Ukwu.

– Two Civil Society Organisations are collaborating to ensure candidates in the 2019 general elections commit to adoption of e-governance – The CSOs stated that their aim is to promote institutional framework and approaches to anti-corruption and transparency efforts – They called on those contesting the 2019 elections and the incumbents to commit to and adopt e-governance Two Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Paradigm Initiative and Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), are collaborating to ensure candidates in the 2019 general elections commit to adoption of e-governance. This was revealed by Paradigm Initiative’s program manager; Mr Adegoke Adeboye and CITAD’s communication officer; Ms Salma Abdulwaheed, during an interactive session with journalists on Tuesday, December 4. They stated that their aim is to promote institutional framework and approaches to anti-corruption and transparency efforts, especially as Nigeria prepares for the 2019 elections.

“As part of our work and advocacy for an open internet, we are supporting efforts at institutionalizing accountability, transparency and the fight against corruption through the positive adoption of technology by government institutions in service delivery. “Riding on the momentum of upcoming elections, we are pushing for the commitment to and adoption of e-governance frameworks by politicians and public office holders on the subject of accountability and anti-corruption. “The central theme of our advocacy is to bring attention to the subject of e-governance as an effective and veritable tool for anti-corruption and transparency efforts in Nigeria. “We are calling on those contesting the 2019 elections and the incumbents to commit to and adopt e-governance in order to foster transparency and accountability,” Adeboye said. He further stated that the positive use of technology, “is an effective solution to the plague of corruption that has far ravaged this nation.” On her part, Abdulwaheed lamented the non-cooperation of political parties in getting involved in the conversation surrounding e-governance. She noted that many of the parties, especially the major ones, shy away from committing or even engaging CSOs in promoting their anti-corruption efforts. Paradigm Initiative is a social enterprise that builds an ICT enabled system and advocate digital rights in Nigeria, believing very strongly in the positives of technology and the roles it plays in economic prosperity, strengthening political participation and deepening governance. CITAD is a non-governmental and non-profit organization committed to the use of information and communication technologies for development and promotion of good governance. It sees technology as tool to promote sustainable development, good government and peaceful coexistence.

Meanwhile, a new initiative, DOS support group, arrow headed by a group of young professionals have been designed to seek the democratization of campaign funding while ensuring a level playing field for all candidates irrespective of party lines and ideological leanings ahead of the 2019 general elections.

By Uzoma Okafor.

Information Technology and Development (CITAD), an NGO, has urged the electorate to elect credible candidates in the 2019 general election and ensure they hold elected public officers accountable always.

Mrs Maryam Haruna made this known in communiqué issued on Friday by at the end of the centre’s one-day interface forum between political parties and social influencers held in Abuja.

The communiqué said that holding elected public officers accountable at all times was the surest way of fighting corruption in the country.

It decried a situation where successive governments were unable to convert the country’s resources into providing necessary infrastructure and systems needed to support economic development and assure citizens of quality life.

“The story of the war against corruption in many years points to the fact that Nigeria and indeed Africa is faced with major crises of transparency and accountability.

“While both government and citizens agreed about corruption being a key factor in the protracted impoverishment of the citizens, governments too has failed to be accountable to the citizens while citizens have not been successful in holding elected public officers accountable.

“Since accountability is a transactional issue, citizens’ demand for it must be strategic, by incentivising it and dis-incentivising corruption through electoral action that makes duty bearers deliver sincerely on election campaign promises,’’ it added.

The communiqué further emphasised that fighting corruption and promoting accountability was a multi-stakeholder responsibility.

“Everyone is shouldered with a tasked of fighting corruption,’’ it added.

It faulted immunity enjoyed by some political office holders, saying that it inhibits the fight against corruption in the executive arm.

According to it, there are lots of biases in the court of justice too.

It further pointed out that the idea of Nigerians celebrating corrupt officials does not help the efforts to stem corruption.

“Nigerians celebrate and normalise corruption, which explains why politician found to have corruptly enriched themselves are not ashamed to be known for their ignoble acts,’’ it added.

It said that political parties were not left out in some of the corrupt practices.

“There is mismanagement of funds from our political parties.

“The high rate of forms of political parties encourages corruption,’’ it said.

While urging political parties to make forms affordable for all aspiring candidates, the statement canvassed for increased participation of youths and women in politics.

“Many youths are apathetic to political activity as they feel their opinions and votes don’t count.

“Governance should not be left for politicians and the leaders but the people, especially women and youths should participate in governance,’’ the communiqué added.

By  David Oladele.

-The Centre for Information Technology and Development has spoken about 2019 general elections

– The centre noted that holding elected public officers accountable at all times is the surest way of fighting corruption in the country

– It, however, faulted immunity enjoyed by some political office holders, saying that it inhibits the fight against corruption in the executive arm The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), an NGO, has urged the electorate to elect credible candidates in the 2019 general election and ensure they hold elected public officers accountable always. Maryam Haruna made this known in statement issued on Friday, November 30, at the end of the centre’s one-day interface forum between political parties and social influencers held in Abuja. The statement read that holding elected public officers accountable at all times was the surest way of fighting corruption in the country.

It decried a situation where successive governments were unable to convert the country’s resources into providing necessary infrastructure and systems needed to support economic development and assure citizens of quality life. “The story of the war against corruption in many years points to the fact that Nigeria and indeed Africa is faced with major crises of transparency and accountability. “While both government and citizens agreed about corruption being a key factor in the protracted impoverishment of the citizens, governments too has failed to be accountable to the citizens while citizens have not been successful in holding elected public officers accountable.

“Since accountability is a transactional issue, citizens’ demand for it must be strategic, by incentivising it and dis-incentivising corruption through electoral action that makes duty bearers deliver sincerely on election campaign promises.’’ The statement further emphasised that fighting corruption and promoting accountability was a multi-stakeholder responsibility. It added: “Everyone is shouldered with a tasked of fighting corruption.’’ It faulted immunity enjoyed by some political office holders, saying that it inhibits the fight against corruption in the executive arm. According to it, there are lots of biases in the court of justice too. It further pointed out that the idea of Nigerians celebrating corrupt officials does not help the efforts to stem corruption.

“Nigerians celebrate and normalise corruption, which explains why politician found to have corruptly enriched themselves are not ashamed to be known for their ignoble acts.’’ “There is mismanagement of funds from our political parties. The high rate of forms of political parties encourages corruption.’’ While urging political parties to make forms affordable for all aspiring candidates, the statement canvassed for increased participation of youths and women in politics. The statement read: “Many youths are apathetic to political activity as they feel their opinions and votes don’t count. Governance should not be left for politicians and the leaders but the people, especially women and youths should participate in governance.’’ Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that a former national security adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), 13 former governors and seven ex- ministers have been reportedly barred from travelling out of the country under Executive Order 6 (EO6) issued on Saturday, October 13, by President Muhammadu Buhari. The restriction followed the judicial affirmation of the constitutionality and legality of the Executive Order 6 (EO6). The watch-list and restriction were put in place pending the conclusion of the cases against those affected.

By Maryam Ado Haruna.

Introduction:- Nigeria is a well-endowed country with rich natural resources. Successive governments in the country have been unable to convert these resources into providing the necessary infrastructure and systems that would transform these resources to support economic development and assure citizens a quality of life. While both government and citizens are agreed about corruption being a key factor in the protracted impoverishment of the citizens, governments too have failed to be accountable to the citizens while citizens have not been successful in holding elected public officers accountable. Accountability is key to ending corruption in the country. Since accountability is a transactional issue, citizens’ demand for it must be strategic, by incentivizing it and dis-incentivizing corruption through electoral action that makes duty bearers deliver sincerely on election campaign promises. It is for this reason, Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), with Support from MacArthur Foundation organized a one day forum for social influencers and media to interface with political parties and actors. The Party in attendance include, KOWA party, Accord, Labour party and PPA. The efforts put I place to get the two major political parties in Nigeria (PDP and APC) proved abortive.

Objectives of the Interface

• To bridge up the social influencers and political parties and actors in order to provide a forum through which the social influencers working anti-corruption and accountability can directly interact with the political parties and actors. This is to enable the social influencers to find out as well as generate a vast understanding on what politicians think of anti-corruption and accountability, and how they integrate or plan to integrate it into their political activities before, during and after election.
• Secondly, during this interface, political parties were expected to share their ideas and programmes on anti-corruption, how they think it and be tackled and ways to ensure and deepen accountability in the country.
• Social influencers were expected to understand how they can track the responsible political office holder in order to make them accountable to their people during their time in offices

 Activities during the Meeting

1. Opening remarks

An opening remarks was given by the Dr. Tunde Misbau Akanni who represented the Executive Director of CITAD, Dr. Yunusa Ya’u, and also chaired the meeting. He welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending the meeting.  He also made a brief on the project where he stated that the 2019 has provided us with an opportunity to place anti-corruption and accountability on the agenda adding that we need to get a buy-in of the decision and policy makers to institutionalise anti-corruption and accountability. He explained that the project is a messaging project that leverages the reach of the social influencers and other individuals such as activists, bloggers, poets and writers to advocate anti-corruption and accountability. Attention is also given to gender, age geography and diversity with the intention of increase pressure on political parties.

2. Statement of Neutrality and Non Partisanship

Since CITAD and the social influencers working as the sub-grantees are nonpartisan, a statement of Neutrality and Nonpartisanship was issued by Odoh Diego Okeyedo of Splendors of Dawns. He explained that the social influencers strive to provide neutrality in their messaging as much they could. It is already cleared to them that MacArthur Foundation do not and will not support partisan activities and will hold any social influences responsible if he/she uses MacArthur’s funding for partisan activities. He added that neutrality doesn’t mean that they are apathetic or indifferent, it is to endeavour to not only represent the opinions of one political party. By being partisan is to declare or express a political affiliation to as part of the project activities.

3. Brief Presentations from Political Parties

Four Political Parties attended the interface. They are, Kowa Party, Labour Party, Accord and Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA). They gave brief presentation on their parties’ ideas and programmes on anti-corruption, how they think it can be tackled and ways to ensure and deepen accountability in the country:

1. Labour Party by Akingbade Oyelekan (National Legal Advisor)

He explained that there is emphasis on anti-corruption and accountability in their party’s agenda. He mentioned that there are accountability guidelines for fund generation as well as in presentation of candidates. The legal advisor also explained that his party believes that current fight against corruption is insincere and biased and was deliberately designed for failure.

The party’s strategy to fight corruption include sincerity in communicating plans to the electorate and a realistic manifesto which doesn’t make false promises to electorate.

1. Progressive People’s Alliance by Kehinde Edun(National Secretary)

According to him, it is clear that the internal affairs of a country can have a huge effect on other countries, and selfish interests of political actors also affects its quest for accountability. The high rate for the price of forms by political parties encourages corruption, but PPA makes its forms affordable for political aspirants. Candidates are also cautioned on anti-corruption and following of due process. There is a need to inculcate honesty in children from birth. There is a need for all Nigerians to engage themselves in political activities to ensure accountability in the process.

1. Accord by Muhammad Lawal Nalado (National Chairman)

According to him, citizens needs to support the government in the course by fighting corruption in their immediate environment and also try to change themselves at their level. He added that fight corruption is everyone’s responsibility.

 

1. KOWA Party by Mark Adebayo (National Secretary)

In his presentation the National Secretary explained that in their party manifesto, only credible and capable Nigerians can contest for positions. He added that KOWA believes that there should be proper accountability of assets seized by anti-corruption agencies. He mentioned that in order to appropriately fight corruption in Nigeria:

• The immunity given to political officers must be removed; he urged media and CSOs to advocate for the removal of such.
• Another step he mentioned was the application of technology to anti-corruption mechanisms such as amplifier based system to prevent the incidence of ghost workers in the civil service.
• They must also be a proper tracking of public office holders.
• Anti-corruption agencies must also be independent and free from any form of influence.
• Another step is the removal of plea-bargaining, establishment of special court for corruption cases. A proper sanitization of the civil service.
• All candidates’ record of corruption should be traced in the forthcoming elections so that they should not be voted.

4. GENERAL OBSERVATION

Following presentations and deliberations, participants observed and raised concerns as follows:

• Corruption starts from our various homes
• There is mismanagement of funds from our political parties
• By granting immunity to some political office holders the Nigerian constitution inhibits the fight against corruption in the Executive arm.
• There are lots of biases in the court of justice.
• Nigerians celebrate and normalize corruption, which explains why every politician found to have corruptly enriched themselves are not ashamed to be known for their ignoble acts.
• Many youths are apathetic to political activity as they feel their opinions and votes don’t count.
• The government has failed to provide our children with standard schools, but they can afford to build private ones which only the riches can afford to attend
• The high rate of forms of political parties encourages corruption
• There is need to inculcate honesty in citizens from birth
• Interest of international community shows that the internal affairs of a country can have a huge effect in other countries.
• Political Parties should make forms affordable for all aspiring candidate
• The huge monetary benefits for public offices is a boon to corruption

5. RECOMMENDATIONS

• The political candidates should scrutinize candidates first and avoid money bag politics.
• Governance should not be left for politicians and the leaders, but the people, especially women and youths should participate in governance
• Social influencers should use their influence through the mass and social media as a means of communication to salvage our nation
• There should be clear a reward and punishment systems for corruption
• There should be transparency in recovery and return of looted funds
• The Nigeria constitution needs to be reviewed
• Impunity should be remove for all political leaders
• Application Technology to reduce or eliminate corruption
• Property tracking of public office holders
• There should no executive interference in issues of anti -corruption bodies
• There should be introduction of anti- corruption court
• We need transparency in recovering, recording and returning loot fund
• There’s need for all Nigerians to be engaged in the political process

Social Influencers that attended the meeting

1. Jide Ojo
2. Adagbo Onoja
3. Odoh Diego Okenyodo
4. Danlami Nmodu
5. Olamide Olaniyan