COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF A RADIO TOWN HALL MEETING AGAINST CORRUPTION, ORGANISED BY THE PROGRESSIVE IMPACT ORGANIZATION FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (PRIMORG)

BACKGROUND TO DELIBERATIONS

The Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development (PRIMORG) with support from the MacArthur Foundation held a town hall meeting against corruption on February 5th, 2021.
The theme of the town hall meeting was:

THE IMPACT OF CORRUPTION MILITATING AGAINST DUE PROCESS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
The meeting was also used to celebrate an integrity icon, Mrs. Tubokenimi David.

She is a 2017 Integrity Icon, who is renowned for instilling due process while working as Assistant Chief Physiotherapist at State House Medical Centre, Abuja.

Other participants and speakers at the meeting looked at the dangers of massive corruption undermining due process in the public sector, especially in procurement processes and budgeting, as well as proffered solutions to it.

The participants include: Ogriki Embelakpo, Director, Human Resources, National Productivity Centre;
Barr Eze Onyekpere, Lead Director, Centre for Social Justice;
Chinwe Ujubuonu, Programs Officer at BUDGIT;
Taslim Anibaba, Chartered Accountant & Tax Consultant; and, Prince Chimaraoke Chukwuka, Representative of Accountability Lab Nigeria.

In the course of deliberation, participants at the town hall meeting noted the following:

– Government should encourage transparency amongst public servants, as well as discourage the concept of favoritism and nepotism in public service.

– Lack of political will by leadership at the highest level of governance undermining due process in the public procurement budget.

– Capacity deficit and lack of foundational integrity undermining public service delivery.

– Political leaders and lawmakers not ready to obey the law.

– Nigeria’s latest slide into a recession caused by corruption and non-adherence to due process.

– Unemployment, over-bloated government expenditures, poverty, illiteracy and poor service delivery are consequences of corruption in the public sector.

– The need for Citizens to build more on integrity and to look at what makes Nigeria better as a country.

– Reward should be created for people of integrity.

– Government should eschew every form of sentiment and discrimination when rewarding people who have distinguished themselves in the public sector.

– Nigeria is littered with abandoned projects. Citizens suffering a high rate of mortality, out of school children due to corruption.

– Due to corruption monies allocated to capital projects are not properly accounted for.

– Nigeria’s international reputation dwindling speedily as a result of the flouting of business rules and sharp practices.

– The public sector in Nigeria is run with impunity, accountability is not strictly adhered to.

– Nigeria’s society endorses impunity.

– The social cost of corruption in Nigeria may outweigh the financial cost.

– It should be incumbent on every citizen of Nigeria to promote integrity within the workplace and their own sphere of influence.

– Most of the integrity issues we have in Nigeria exist because of poor parenting.

CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATION

– Nigerians should look out for men and women of integrity to take over the leadership of the country in 2023.

– The Federal Government must lead by example in the fight against corruption.

– Government should put in place programmes and structures that will help in educating the citizens against corruption in public service.

– Political leaders must set good standards for citizens to follow.

– President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration urged to appoint people of integrity into public offices.

– Citizens must display integrity in their own sphere of influence.

– Parents must inculcate accountability and integrity into their wards.

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