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Tag: civil society organisations (CSOs)

  • CSOs partner EFCC on budget monitoring

    CSOs partner EFCC on budget monitoring

    Scores of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of the Initiative for Leadership and Economic Watch in Nigeria have expressed their desire to partner  with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in monitoring budget at national and sub-national levels to ensure optimal performance.

     The group stated this during a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede at the headquarters in Abuja.

     Speaking on behalf of the leaders of the CSOs, Amb. Splendor Agbonkpolor said they came together to operate as a committee, basically to focus on budget monitoring and implementation.

     “The budget is our major concern. Our mandate is to monitor budget implementation; to assess budget effectiveness, identify budget gaps, advocate for reforms, promote transparency, provide evidence-based reports, collaborate with stakeholders, and support capacity building”, he said. 

    Agbonkpolor said the CSOs decided partner with  the EFCC because the fight against corruption is not  solely the business of the EFCC.

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    “The EFCC needs Nigerians to assist it in terms of reportage and information.The committee believes that corruption starts with procurement. If corruption is tackled from the point of procurement down to the point of implementation, at the end of the day, the money that would be stolen from the budget would be minimised,” he said.

     Agbonkpolor stressed the need for collaboration and cooperation in the fight against corruption.

    Olukoyede  thanked  the CSOs for showing “deep interest in seeing that Nigeria moves forward”, adding that it can only achieved  by collaboration.

     “I have been saying it and I will continue to say it that fighting corruption is not the work of law enforcement or anti-corruption agencies alone and that is why I am so much in love with your initiative. I can guarantee you all our support.

    When I see civil society with us, it gives me confidence that we are succeeding,” he said.

  • CSOs demand accountability from government, military on rising terrorism

    CSOs demand accountability from government, military on rising terrorism

    Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have called on the Nigerian government and military leadership to address the root causes of terrorism in the country. They cited issues such as rampant poverty and inequality, porous borders, corruption, and inefficiencies in defense spending as key factors driving insecurity.

    The CSOs urged the Nigerian security apparatus to focus on disrupting terrorist funding and logistics networks rather than targeting civil society groups. They emphasized the need to enhance intelligence gathering and operational capacity to protect lives and property effectively.

    The organisations also stressed the importance of engaging constructively with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to tackle the underlying causes of insecurity. They argued that civil society plays a vital role in fostering peace and development, including the implementation of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Additionally, the CSOs called for a clear articulation of grievances that lead to terrorism and extremist violence.

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    Their concerns follow inflammatory claims by an unnamed former Air Officer Commanding (AOC) of the Nigerian Air Force. In an article published by Vanguard Newspapers on January 16, 2025, the ex-officer accused NGOs in the North-East, North-West, and North-Central regions of covertly supporting and funding terrorism.

    The CSOs condemned these allegations, warning that such unsubstantiated claims could incite attacks on humanitarian workers and exacerbate the security crisis. They argued that effective counter-terrorism efforts require the involvement of a vibrant and active civil society, as recognized globally.

  • CSOs advocate value change in fight against corruption

    CSOs advocate value change in fight against corruption

    Eighteen civil society organisations (CSOs) have called for behavioural change in the fight against corruption in the country.

    The civil societies, which make up a cohort, include Lux Terra Leadership Foundation, Accountability Lab Nigeria, Step-Up Nigeria, Akin Fadeyi Foundation, Arewa 24 and Chatham House.

    Others are National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Anti-corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), and Al-Habibiyya Islamic Society.

    They worked on a six years project on corruption on the platform of the Behaviour Change Cohort of the MacArthur Foundation.

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    The CSOs said in the cause of the project, they observed that several approaches against corruption have yielded little or no result, hence the decision to adopt preventive measures by championing a campaign that will herald positive changes in the people’s behaviours and attitudes towards corruption.

    During an interactive session with reporters in Abuja, representatives of the CSOs, in their different submissions, highlighted how corruption has affected the socio-economic growth and development of Nigeria, and stressed the need for collective efforts to tackle the challenges.

  • For transparency

    Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have asked the Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and tertiary institutions to publish information regarding disbursements to tertiary institutions—universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in the country. According to Austin Chinonye, CEO of Basic Right Watch, one of the organisations making the call, TETFund should “publish the funds that it is allocating to tertiary institutions and let the tertiary institutions be open so that the public can know what they are getting and what they (tertiary institutions) use the funds to do.”

    This call has come at the right time, given the fact that in 2017, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Dr. Abdullahi Bichi Baffa, called for credibility and professionalism in the conduct of audit of TETFund and beneficiary institutions across the country. Even though it is not clear if the CSOs have observed any violation or negligence in adherence to stipulated regulations guiding operations of the agency and tertiary institutions, periodic reminders about importance of transparency on the part of agencies managing public funds is necessary. It is also necessary for the Federal Ministry of Education to find out if the agencies were really defaulting and, if so, why sanctions for lapses were not imposed.

    Like the laws governing all public agencies, the one guiding TETFund, an agency set up to “provide focused and transformative intervention in public tertiary institutions in Nigeria through funding and effective project management” also expects the agency to “ensure accountability and transparency in all its undertakings.” Therefore, the demand by the CSOs that TETFund as a disbursing agency, and tertiary institutions that benefit from funds managed by it publish financial records of all transactions between them is perfectly within the remit of such civil society organisations to protect and promote public interest.

    We commend the alertness of organisations calling for openness and transparency on the part of an agency charged to manage revenue from taxes collected from companies toward “focused and transformative intervention in public tertiary institutions… through funding and effective project management of physical infrastructure for teaching and learning, instructional material and equipment, research and publication and academic staff training and development. There is no gainsaying that, given the pivotal role of higher education in the provision of knowledge required for national growth and development, the demands for transparency in the use of funds at the disposal of TETFund are made on behalf of all stakeholders in the education sector.

    Just as the advice of TETFund’s Executive Secretary in 2017: “I want us to conduct audit of the agency very creditably and professionally… Once you deviate from this, it will be business as usual. Believe me, the report of this exercise will also serve as a deterrent from misuse of funds as well as help the beneficiaries in their accounting.”

    We, therefore, lend our voice to the call that agencies in the education sector, including TETFund, Universal Basic Education Commission, and all educational institutions—primary, secondary, and tertiary that manage or use public funds live up to their responsibility to be accountable to the public, by publishing at regular intervals financial records of their transactions, about which citizens have the right to know.

  • Obaseki seeks CSOs’ support, monitoring of Edo BEST programme

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has called on Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to join forces with the state government in deepening the impact of the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (Edo-BEST) programme by monitoring its implementation in local government areas across the state.

    Obaseki made the call during the courtesy visit by board members of Enibokun-Edoror Foundation, at Government House, in Benin City, Edo State.

    He urged the Enibokun-Edoror Foundation to support the programme by monitoring its implementation in Edo Central Senatorial District, to ensure efficiency and accountability.

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    He said, “As an organisation, we would like you to assist us in monitoring schools in local government areas where Enibokun-Edoror Foundation operates to ensure that teachers are always present in schools to teach our children.”

    Explaining that his administration is keen on curbing human trafficking and irregular migration by providing access to qualitative basic education for citizens, he noted, “One of the ways we are curtailing human trafficking is to improve education particularly at the basic level, so as to instill confidence in our youth. This is why we launched the Edo-BEST programme.”

    The governor commended the Foundation for its various skills acquisition programmes, adding, “the state government would work with you to broaden the scope of the Foundation. When we see people like you, who are concerned about the situation of young people and ready to empower them with hands-on skills, we have no choice but to work with and support you.

    “We will visit your skills acquisition centres to see what you have on ground and areas where we can support you,” he added.

    President of Enibokun-Edoror Foundation, Mrs. Rosemary Edoror, commended governor Obaseki-led administration for its transformational leadership as well as the development of the state, especially in the area of road infrastructure.

    Edoror said the Foundation has members drawn from the five local council areas in Edo Central and is involved in youth empowerment and provision of financial assistance to indigent students and women.

    She added, “In our five skills acquisition centres, we train youths on fashion design, bead making, cosmetology and electrical repairs. The Foundation seeks support from the state government to purchase more training equipment which we enable us sustain our skills acquisition programme.”

  • CSOs urge eligible voters in Anambra to register with INEC

    Civil Society Organisations ( CSOs ) have called on eligible voters in Anambra to register with the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) before the end of the current phase of the Continuous Voter Registration ( CVR ).

    The groups made the call in Awka during a one-day sensitisation workshop on Electoral Participation for youths on Sunday.

    Mrs Chioma Okeke, Coordinator, Shoulder for Gender Support and Development Initiative, decried the level of political apathy in Anambra and the South-East.

    Okeke called on the participants, mostly youths, to avail themselves with the window provided by the ongoing CVR and register.

    She said some of the identified challenges in registration of voters in Anambra include: absence of INEC registration officials at advertised venues, alleged extortion of those wishing to register by officials and non collection of Permanent Voter Cards ( PVCs ).

    “INEC has to do more to cover eligible voters in the ongoing registration process, while in some places, efforts are made to register people even up to going to their houses, here people go to designated places and the officials are not there,” she said.

    On his part, Mr Chukwuma Chukwura, Coordinator of Kingsfaith Development and Youth Empowerment Initiative, expressed concern that people could not take time off their daily routine to register or collect their PVCs at INEC office.

    He said the number of eligible voters said to have registered in Anambra was a far cry from the population of voters in the state.

    “It is a serious source of worry for us how our youths behave when it comes to politics.

    “They are very active on social media , posting all sort of things about Nigeria and some individuals but in practice, they are not doing anything; common registering to vote, they will not, for those that manage to register, go and get your PVC, no way.

    “Worse still, on the day of election you see them playing football and drinking at joints because they feel it is not their business, that is why very small per cent of them voted in the last governorship election in Anambra.

    “What we are saying is that INEC, the political class and communities should encourage those who have not registered to do so before the time is up,” he said.

    Addressing the participants, Mr Leo Nkedife, Head, Public Relations Department of INEC in Anambra , corroborated the CSOs’ observation that the turnout of people in the state for the CVR was poor.

    Nkedife urged the people to take advantage of the exercise to register, saying that registration was free.

    He urged the people to report any of the commission’s official(s) who demanded money before registering them.

    Nkedife disclosed that only 22 per cent of the 2.15 million voters in Anambra participated in the Nov. 18, 2107 governorship election, and that over 142,000 PVCs were still awaiting collection at the INEC office in the state.

    He said INEC had greatly improved in the conduct of elections as people’s votes now count.

    Prof Collins Okafor of the Department of Political Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, blamed the political apathy among the people on lack of confidence in the Nigerian electoral process.

    Okafor said apathy include; refusal to register, refusal to belong to a political party, refusal to vote and refusal to protest against rigging and other electoral malpractice.

    He said those who did not participate in politics contributed more to the political and economic crisis in the country.

    NAN

  • ‘INEC yet to clear Bello of double registration’

    ‘INEC yet to clear Bello of double registration’

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified the issuance of a Temporary Voters Card (TVC), to Gvernor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, despite pending allegation of double registration against him.

    The Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof James Apam, made the clarification Thursday in Lokoja, during an interactive session with journalists and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

    He explained that the issuance of the new TVC to the governor was based on advice from the commission’s legal department.

    Governor Bello, he said, had applied for the transfer of his voter registration from Abuja to Okene and that it was acted upon based on legal advice, adding that the development did not mean INEC would discontinue the double registration allegation against him.

    His words: “The fact that there is an allegation against the governor does not take away his right to demand a transfer. When his application was brought to INEC, it was subjected to legal advice and the application was approved, while the allegation of double registration is still hanging on him”.

    The commission, last year alleged Governor Bello of double registration, following which two of its staff were dismissed from the commission and a senior officer, compulsorily retired.

    Apam disclosed that the commission has so far registered 176, 868 new people; 90, 523 male and 86, 313 female, since commencement of the exercise in April 2017.

    He added that 57, 148 Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) were distributed, while a total of 202, 289 PVC remain unclaimed.

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  • Minister challenges CSOs, media on treasury looters

    Minister challenges CSOs, media on treasury looters

    The Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have been challenged on the need to ensure that Nigerians does not forget the evil deeds of the people who looted the country treasury.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, threw the challenge at the launch of the Anti-Corruption Situation Room (ACSR), which includes civil society organizations, media groups, government agencies and other stakeholders, in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The minister challenged the civil society to work with the media and other stakeholders to ensure that Nigerians never forget, for one moment, the damage done to the country by treasury looters.

    He said ”Those who turned our treasury to their piggy bank are once again presenting themselves as the saviours of the nation. They say the best time for Nigeria was when the proceeds of their corruption subsidised many and gave the illusion of economic boom. They are so emboldened as to say Nigerians are earnestly yearning for them. No contrition. No apologies. No shame. Just sheer bravado.  Unbridled arrogance.  Revisionism.

    ”The Civil Society, the media and indeed all stakeholders owe it a duty not to allow Nigerians to forget, to say ‘Never Again’ to those who view Nigeria as nothing but a cash cow to be milked to death.”

    Alhaji Mohammed said the formation of the ACSR could not have come at a better time, as the Buhari Administration’s fight against corruption is gaining momentum, ”and the government is winning the war”.

    ”But there is a challenge: There seems to be a feeling of numbness among the citizens about the conduct of those whose actions brought us here, those who looted the national treasury dry. Suddenly, these same people are engaging in revisionist history and blaming everyone but themselves for the mess their actions put the country into,” he said.

    Reeling out the cost of corruption to the nation, the Minister listed the conversion to a slush fund of the 2.1 billion dollars meant to buy weapons for the Nigerian military to fight Boko Haram; the fact that country could only generate 2,690 megawatts as at 29 May 2015 despite spending billions of dollars on power and the failure of past governments to save for the rainy day, even when oil was selling above 100 dollars a barrel for many years.

    He listed some of the gains of the anti-corruption fight as raising the country’s foreign reserves from 23 billion dollars to 38 billion dollars; stoppage of the payment of phantom subsidy of between 800
    billion and 1.3 trillion Naira; and the recovery of at least 43 million dollars and 56 houses from just one official of the immediate past Administration.

    Other gains of the fight against corruption, according to Alhaji Mohammed, include the recovery of 2.9 billion dollars from looters so far; the Whistle-blower policy which has led to the recovery of 151 million dollars and N8 billion in looted funds from just three sources; the elimination of thousands of ghost workers, which has saved the nation 120 billion Naira and the elimination of the 108 billion Naira in maintenance fees payable to banks, pre-TSA.

    He commended those behind the formation of the ACSR, a platform to build synergy among anti-corruption CSOs, the labour movement, the law enforcement agencies, the Parliament and the Judiciary, as well as to ensure that Nigerians take ownership of the fight against corruption.

  • Demand for good governance in tackling crimes, UNODC urges CSOs

    Demand for good governance in tackling crimes, UNODC urges CSOs

    The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime ( UNODC ) has urged Civil Society Organisations ( CSOs ) in Nigeria to continue to demand for good governance from leaders to address organised crimes in the country.

    The UNODC outgoing Country Representative, Ms Cristina ALBERTIN, gave the advice when she appeared as a guest in a forum in Abuja.

    UNODC deals in organised crimes like drug, child and human trafficking, smuggling of fire arms, economic crimes, money laundering, corruption and terrorism base on UN conventions and protocols.

    ALBERTIN explained that the roles of CSOs did not stop at the prevention of crimes by raising awareness but also ensures leaders were living up to their responsibilities.

    She said that CSOs must play their roles to increase transparency in governance and ensure projects captured in budget were done in accountable manner.

    The outgoing country representative stated that vulnerability remained a key factor in terms of organised, adding that because poor people who did not see opportunities in their own countries to develop were vulnerable to such crimes.

    “It is important for us to attack the vulnerability as well to tackle the challenge of organised crime,” she said.

    According to her, the role of CSOs in organised crimes is also enormous, especially in prevention of human trafficking.

    “In fighting human trafficking, we have to go to communities where these girls and women come from, we have to work with them because they know the girls that are living and the ones missing.

    ALBERTIN commended Nigeria for its effort in adopting Justice sector reform, pointing out that most of the states had set up such reforms and urged those that had not done that to do so.

    She said that in the last two years, her UNODC had been working with 10 states in the country on Justice Sector reforms.

    NAN

  • Magu challenges CSOs on close monitoring of NDDC projects

    Magu challenges CSOs on close monitoring of NDDC projects

    Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, has urged Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the South-South to closely monitor contract award and execution by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    Magu made the call in Port-Harcourt at an interactive session with CSO leaders in Rivers and Bayelsa states on Monday, the commission said in a statement.

    According to him, proper monitoring of contract award and implementation by citizens is an effective way of fighting the evil of project abandonment in the country.

    “We must monitor how contracts are being given and how they are executed to ensure transparency and accountability.

    “Also, civil society groups are needed to work with the EFCC in ensuring that right things are done, not only in respect of contract issues but also in all other issues.

    “Let people do the right thing within the South-South.

    “If people do the right thing it is for the benefit of the people of the Niger Delta”, spokesman of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, quoted him as saying.

    The EFCC boss also called on the CSO leaders to be ready to serve as a bridge between the commission and the larger public.

    He decried the rising rate of poverty within the South-South, noting that money meant for the development of the region was not accounted for.

    He, therefore, challenged them to work towards ending corruption in the region by sensitising youths and other interest groups about the evils of the menace.

    Magu stated that for CSOs to rise to the new responsibilities thrust on them, they must be committed, properly-involved and courageous. .

    “We are coming together to adopt a common strategy, be committed and properly involved. You need patience, perseverance and courage.

    “They will fight you because corruption always fights back but they cannot overcome you because you are doing the right thing”, he said.

    The National Director, Coalition of NGOs Against Corruption, Mr Haris Chuma, commended the EFCC on behalf of the CSOs.

    Chuma said the tempo of the fight against corruption had significantly increased since Magu came on board.

    He promised that the group would show more commitment and responsibility in the new roles offered them by the EFCC.

    “We are willing and ready to work with the commission to bring corruption to an end’’, he said.