By Adebisi Onanuga
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has inaugurated a SERAP Accountability Club (SAC) to promote accountability and transparency in tertiary institutions across the country.
The inauguration with the theme: ‘Open Society or Secrecy?: The Role of Students in Promoting Transparency and Accountability in Nigeria’ held in Ikeja, Lagos.
The inauguration of SAC, organised in collaboration with Luminate Foundation, aims at promoting inclusion of students and student bodies in accountability processes and awareness among students on procedures for activating accountability mechanisms to contribute to the fight against corruption and to improve transparency and accountability in the management of public resources, and respect for human rights.
The club drew its pilot members from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Lagos.
SAC is to have a national, unified voice and network for advocacy, information sharing and capacity building whilst mobilising and engaging Nigerian citizens, particularly students of tertiary institutions across the country in promoting transparency and accountability in Nigeria.
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Activist-lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, who spoke virtually, urged the students to support only political parties with an ideology to implement the fundamental objectives contained in Chapter II of the constitution.
The African Associate of Luminate, Mrs Toyin Akinloye, said accountability and transparency are central to the heart of any society and stressed the need for more participation of the people in governance.
SERAP Deputy Director Oluwadare Kolawole educated the students on what the club is not about, adding that the club is a coalition of student volunteers across tertiary institutions and working together to promote transparency and accountability.
Kolawole said corruption is one of the many ways that take away many things from Nigerians, adding that the country is in a bad shape because there is so much stealing and corruption because there is no transparency.
“The burden is on you students to fight for accountability and transparency, not just in your school, but also in government.
He said government can be made accountable through advocacy, inclusion and collective action.
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