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Tag: CSO

  • CSO demands report on alleged $4 billion refinery fraud probe

    CSO demands report on alleged $4 billion refinery fraud probe

    The Concerned Nigerians for Transparency and Justice (CNTJ), a civil society coalition, has pressed on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to release a public interim report on the investigation into the alleged $4 billion fraud linked to the failed rehabilitation of Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries under the immediate past NNPCL leadership. 

    The group argued that six months is sufficient for Nigerians to be informed about the progress of the probe and any funds recovered. 

    In an open letter to the EFCC chairman by Comrades Obinna Francis and Adamu Musa, the group underscored the urgency of transparency amid economic challenges.

    The open letter highlighted public outrage over the refineries’ failure to produce fuel despite high-profile commissioning ceremonies, which promised an end to fuel imports. 

    CNTJ pointed to the severe economic implications of the alleged mismanagement, noting that the $4 billion—equivalent to trillions of naira—could have funded critical sectors like healthcare, education, and infrastructure. 

    Read Also: CSOs urge DAPPMAN to drop threats against Dangote Refinery

    In the letter, CNTJ said: “We write as a civic coalition deeply invested in promoting accountability and protecting public resources. Corruption, when left unchecked, undermines democracy and impoverishes millions of Nigerians.” 

    The letter praised the EFCC’s initial actions, including summoning former CEO Meye Kyari for questioning and engaging other suspected parties. 

    CNTJ argued the missing funds, could have alleviated hardships like tripled transport fares and record-high food prices, which have left families struggling.

    The letter emphasised: “The controversy over the refinery rehabilitation fund cuts to the heart of Nigeria’s current economic crisis. At current exchange rates, the missing $4 billion translates into several trillions of naira—enough to finance substantial portions of the federal budget, pay down debts, and provide direct relief to millions of suffering families.

    “The situation is doubly tragic because it compounds the hardships already facing ordinary Nigerians.”

    CNTJ demanded: “We urge the EFCC to release an interim report, or at least a detailed public briefing, outlining the findings to date. Such a report should clarify how much of the $4 billion was disbursed, who received it, and what results have been achieved.” 

  • CSO seeks better working conditions for domestic workers

    CSO seeks better working conditions for domestic workers

    A non – governmental organisation, CEE HOPE Foundation has called for improved working conditions for domestic workers in the country.

    The organisation made the appeal during a one-day seminar on the rights of domestic workers yesterday in Abuja. 

    The seminar was part of an ongoing campaign to highlight the abuse of domestic workers and the need to uphold their human and labour rights in accordance with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 189 of 2011.

    The Founder of the organisation, Betty Abah, condemned the inhumane treatment domestic workers often faced from their employers, highlighting cases of suppression and in extreme instances, death.

    Abah called for concerted efforts to raise awareness about the rights of domestic workers, aiming to end their harrowing experiences and create skill acquisition opportunities to better equip them.

    She emphasised the importance of implementing the Child Rights Act and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law to prevent impunity among employers of domestic workers.

    Abah said: “Many have lost their lives or suffered severe injuries while working as domestic care workers. We are spotlighting this issue and advocating for the unionization of domestic workers to ensure they can assert their rights and demand better treatment and pay.”

    She stressed the need to educate workers about their rights, explaining that awareness could prevent them from being subjected to round-the-clock work for meager wages. 

    Abah also noted that unionisation would improve working conditions and reduce the use of underage workers.

    She said: “Many domestic workers have missed educational opportunities and skill development, leaving them with little to look forward to in adulthood.”

    Abah criticised the lack of active enforcement of child rights laws and the VAPP Act in Nigeria, calling for better implementation to protect domestic workers. 

    She also urged organised labour to support the campaign and the government to provide the necessary backing.

    Regional Representative of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Dr. Claus Dieter Konig, emphasised the importance of government action to ensure young girls attend school instead of working as domestic workers. 

    He pointed out that violence against domestic workers was prevalent and ranged from disrespect to physical abuse.

    He said: “Every worker has the right to unionize. Many domestic workers in Nigeria, most of whom are women, have their rights abused. This campaign aims to defend their rights and address their issues.”

    He called on the government to establish laws ensuring domestic workers received a minimum wage and created mechanisms for reporting and addressing violence against them.

    A representative f the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Hauwa Mustapha praised the initiative, pledging her support. 

    She also condemned the dehumanising treatment domestic workers receive, noting that many people believe these workers do not deserve dignity.

  • CSO deploys AI to strengthen anti-graft fight

    CSO deploys AI to strengthen anti-graft fight

    A civil society, Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI), has disclosed plans to deploy Artificial Intelligence in the fight against corruption.

    The organisation said this would help to strengthen accountability in government institutions.

    Presenting the newly revamped “Value for Money with AI-enabled featured platform to stakeholders in Abuja, the executive director of PLSI, Olusegun Elemo said the organization aimed to deploy technology in the fight against corruption to make it more efficient.

    He said: “Petitions on service delivery and public finance management issues which used to take weeks and months for citizens and marginalised communities to submit to anti-corruption agencies for investigation can now be done in less than five minutes using the newly enhanced “Value for Money” platform.”

    Elemo said PLSI conveyed a focused group discussion on the impact of and adaptation to emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance accountability in Nigeria.

    Participants at the Focused Group Discussion include representatives from federal and state Anti-Corruption Agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), federal and state audit institutions, Public Accounts Committees (PACs), as well as delegates from civil society and media.

    Read Also: Kano probe: Independent CSO report clears Ganduje of any wrongdoing

    Elemo added: “The upgraded technology platform which was first launched in 2016 is now aimed at effectively democratising citizens’ participation and involvement in efforts to curb public sector corruption and strengthen accountability at all levels of government in Nigeria.

    “The Value for Money stands out in its effort to allow citizens to track, act, and report on audited development projects in their communities to improve efficiency in the use of public resources and delivery of services.”

    He highlighted the potential of Artificial Intelligence to include: curbing public sector corruption, enhancing accountability, and improving service delivery to citizens.

    Elemo revealed that since 2016, PLSI has supported more than 300 communities and over 1,000 citizens to actively use audit data to engage anti-corruption agencies to improve the delivery of services.

    He noted that while the support has always been semi-automated, the newly upgraded technology platform with AI-enabled features has fully automated that citizen-government engagement process thereby effectively democratising citizens’ participation in anti-corruption and accountability efforts in Nigeria.

    Elemo said: “We are aware of weaknesses of artificial intelligence tools, but we are poised to leverage its strength to support anti-corruption and accountability efforts in Nigeria. This Focused Group Discussion is a vital platform to learn with stakeholders how this new opportunity will work for all with consideration for ethics, data privacy, and protection.”

  • CSO lauds NCC’s milestones, reforms in positioning communication sector

    CSO lauds NCC’s milestones, reforms in positioning communication sector

    The Citizens Watch Africa (CWA) has applauded Dr Aminu Maida for his efforts to revamp the telecommunications sector since his appointment as the EVC/ CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

    The group, at a briefing on Tuesday, said Maida has introduced laudable reforms to boost the confidence of stakeholders in the sector, translating to more investments in critical telecoms infrastructure. 

    Convener of the group, Hon. Pastor Dave Ogbole, said it came to this conclusion after an extensive scrutiny of the operations of the NCC in the last six months. 

    Ogbole said there has been a renewed drive to promote transparency and accountability by the NCC leadership led by Maida. 

    According to him: “This has consequently led to an improvement in the organization’s governance processes. The takeaway from this new drive is the disposition by the leadership of the NCC to ensure a level playing ground for all players in the sector.

    “Citizens Watch Africa states that the new drive at the NCC has indeed re-positioned the agency for improved productivity. This has been evident in the various stakeholder engagement initiatives where feedback is gathered and examined to improve the sector.

     “We are using this medium to commend the leadership of the NCC. It is highly dedicated and committed to delivering on its key mandate. The new drive at the NCC has led to a steady increase in active voice and internet subscriptions, including a drop in teledensity. 

    Read Also: CSO urges transparency in host community development trust fund

    “It is instructive to state that the nation’s teledensity dropped from 115.63% to 102.30% in September. Broadband penetration dropped from 45.47% to 40.85% in the same month. The active voice subscription statistics witnessed a marginal growth from 220,715,961 to 221,769,883 as of September 2023. In addition, Internet subscriptions also enjoyed a marginal increase, from 159,034,717 in August 2023 to 160,171,125 in September 2023.

    “These are indicators of the renewed commitment by the NCC leadership to revamp the sector. Citizens  Watch Africa salutes the dexterity and passion of the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida. He hit the ground running with laudable policies to re-position the telecoms industry for optimal productivity. “

    The group encouraged Maida to continue to provide excellent leadership required at this critical point of our existence towards our drive for sustainable growth and development.

  • CSO urges transparency in host community development trust fund

    CSO urges transparency in host community development trust fund

    A civil society organisation, Accountability Lab Nigeria, has called for transparency and accountability in Host Community Development Trust Fund. 

    The organisation noted that the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill into an Act revolutionised the petroleum industry in Nigeria. 

    According to the organisation, one of the interesting components in the provisions of the Act is the Host Community Development Trust Fund. 

    It noted that the establishment of the Host Community Development Trust Fund (HCDTF) threw up new challenges that need intervention. 

    The Storytelling Development Officer for Accountability Lab, Blessing Anolaba said this during a two – day sensitisation workshop aimed at enhancing transparency within the Host Community Development Trust Fund in Akwa Ibom in partnership with Ford Foundation.

    She said the workshop was part of Accountability Lab Nigeria’s natural resource governance project aimed at addressing key challenges faced by trust managers and community members in ensuring accountability and compliance with regulations set by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). 

    Anolaba said community members were trained on the use of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as an advocacy strategy to promote accountability.

    Read Also: Police, CSO partner towards enhanced Police Act 2020

    She said: “It is imperative for community members to understand how to effectively utilize the FOIA to advocate for transparency and accountability regarding both the 3% operating expenses from settlers through the NUPRC and other community development projects facilitated by contractors.”

    Project Officer for Accountability Lab Nigeria, Mnenga Shiiwua said: “The sensitisation workshop serves as a platform for trust managers and community members to voice their concerns and find workable solutions to the challenges faced in managing the Host Community Development Trust Fund. By addressing issues related to accountability, compliance, and grievance resolution, we hope to enhance transparency and promote sustainable development within host communities in Akwa Ibom State.”

  • CSO seeks harmonisation of ethics, integrity policy in public service

    CSO seeks harmonisation of ethics, integrity policy in public service

    A civil society organisation (CSO), Accountability Lab Nigeria has called for the harmonisation of a comprehensive Code of Conduct, National Ethics and Integrity Policy for public servants.

    The organisation noted that this would promote transparency, integrity, and trustworthiness among those entrusted with public responsibilities.

    Country Director, Accountability Lab Nigeria, Friday Odeh, said that a unified code of conduct would help establish a common standard for ethical behaviour, curb corruption, and enhance public trust.

    Speaking reporters, he said: “The need for proper ethical standards and behaviour in business and government transactions remains a significant obstacle to Nigeria’s pursuit of sustainable development. Ethical governance is pivotal for addressing this issue and enhancing public trust.

    Read Also: CSO faults Nasarawa Tribunal judgment on Gov Sule

    “This policy brief presents a strategic perspective on strengthening ethics and integrity in Nigeria by harmonising the Nigerian Code of Conduct for public servants and the National Ethics and Integrity Policy. These policies play crucial roles in shaping the conduct of both public officials and citizens.”

    Odeh said by leveraging the strengths of both policies, Nigeria can create an environment that promotes accountability, integrity, and responsible leadership.

    He emphasised the complementary nature of these policies and proposed a forward-looking approach to their seamless integration to enhance public confidence.

    He added: “Nigeria’s governance is marred by a crisis that undermines ethical values, positive behaviours, and societal norms essential for effective functioning. Many politicians and public officials in Nigeria lack ethical and moral standards, engaging in practices such as abuse of office, nepotism, conflicts of interest, and misuse of government information.

    “The 2022 Ibrahim Index of African Governance ranks Nigeria 30th out of 54 African countries. Widespread lack of accountability, unethical behaviour and corruption have normalized, reflecting a crisis of ethics in public services. The Global Corruption Barometer highlights that 43 per cent of Nigerians perceive increased corruption over the past year.”

    He said enforcing ethical standards in government is vital for preventing waste and abuse and prioritising public interest over private interest.

  • CSO trains undergraduates on technology

    A pan-African social enterprise working on digital rights and digital inclusion, Paradigm Initiative (PI) has commenced a tuition-free programme to empower undergraduates with Python programming skills.

    The first edition of the training was held last Saturday with 36 trainees from three higher institutions in Lagos – University of Lagos (UNILAG), Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) and Lagos State University (LASU).

    Paradigm Initiative said the training is in conjunction with the Python Nigeria group.

    A statement by PI Communications Officer Sodiq Alabi quoted its official, Olayinka Taiwo, as saying: “We are pleased to welcome 36 students to the first edition of this important training program. 12 students will be trained on Python for Data Science while 24 undergraduates will be trained on Python for Web. The training is under our Techtiary programme which is dedicated to helping undergraduates acquire technical expertise before they graduate.”

    Taiwo added: “By learning Python, beneficiaries can position themselves for various opportunities in the ever-expanding information communication technology space. Python has been lauded as one of the most lucrative programming languages to learn and its applications are wide-ranging. With the faculty support from the good people of Python Nigeria, we are excited to be introducing this language to more young Nigerians.”

     

  • Buhari`s CSO, Abubakar to proceed on course

    Indications emerged on Friday that President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the replacement of his Chief Security Officer, (CSO), Bashir Abubakar who is expected to proceed on course.

    It was gathered that the Director of Enforcement at the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been approved to replace Abubakar.

    The new CSO was at the presidential villa on Friday to join President Buhari at the Aso Rock Mosque for the juma’at prayers

    Mr Bashir, the former CSO until last week was ordered to proceed on an immediate “strategic course” at a University in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

    Read also: Buhari poorer now than in 2015, says Osinbajo 

    President Buhari had two months into his administration in July 2015 replaced his erstwhile CSO, Abdulrahman Mani, and appointed Mr Abubakar.

    Although there was no official confirmation about the redeployment, it was gathered that the change was part of strategic move by the President to rejig his security architecture.

     

  • CSO appeals to Fed Govt not to deploy military for polls

    A Coalition of Civil Society Organisation and Election Observers yesterday appealed to the Federal Government not to deploy the military for Saturday’s governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

    The group noted that it was not the role of the military to participate in elections but should instead restrict itself to the mandate of providing support for the Nigerian police during elections.

    Coordinator of the group, Okpanachi Jacob and its Secretary, Olufemi Johnson, made the appeal in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday.

    They called for the immediate withdrawal of alleged military siege in some states in the Niger Delta region.

    They noted that any attempt to derail the country’s democracy would be too tragic for the nation to bear, noting that Nigerians must all wake up to this reality.

    The statement reads: “As democrats and stakeholders in the Nigeria’s democratic process, we strongly feel obliged to draw the attention of the media, the Nigerian people and the international community, to the attempt being orchestrated mainly to intimidate, harass and build unnecessary tensions around an election process, which ordinarily should be a civil exercise.

    “We have a duty to our country, to Nigerians and democracy, in ensuring that every elements that threatens our democratic growth are challenged and rejected as a matter of patriotism.

    “We must not allow desperate politicians and their collaborators within the security agencies, to truncate this democracy. And when we find ourselves under such circumstance such as it is presently being witnessed, appropriate action must be taken not to allow our democracy to be derailed.

    “We also call on our people to remain peaceful in their conducts as they prepare to exercise their constitutional franchise on Saturday. We urge them to be steadfast and not be intimidated by anybody particularly the security agents, as we continue to demand that the military siege on the Niger delta is immediately halted.

    “We ask Nigerians and lovers of democracy to remain vigilant and be ready to ensure that the votes of our people count, as we struggle to defend our democracy. The price of liberty and sustenance of our democracy is eternal vigilance and appropriate reaction to ward off iniquities.”

  • CSO: political class not ready for credible elections

    THE nation’s political class seemed not ready for an enduring democracy for constantly undermining the electoral process, a civil rights organisation (CSO), Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), has said.

    The group also expressed regrets that deployment and conduct of military personnel to identified flash-points across the country for the 2019 presidential and National Assembly election was unsatisfactory.

    The CSO, at a news conference from its Situation Room in Abuja yesterday, said while observing the presidential and National Assembly elections from across the country, it  discovered that the electoral laws and rules as set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were sabotaged by the politicians.

    The CSO’s Executive Director, Faith Nwadishi, who presented the preliminary report on the elections,  noted that connivance between officials of the electoral commission and politicians was also designed to impact the elections negatively.

    She said: “The conduct of men of the Armed Forces deployed to flash-points to ensure the security of lives and properties leaves much to be desired.

    “In many instances, men of the Armed Forces left their primary responsibilities and became participants in the electoral process. Cases of such involvement in the electoral process were reported in places like Rivers, Bayelsa and Yobe states.

    “Also, there were cases of men of the Armed Forces preventing election observers performing their legitimate duties, even after proper identification.

    “In some cases, we had reports of voters being turned away from accessing their polling booths as was reported in the riverine areas of Delta State, where water ways were blocked.”

    Nwadishi said deliberate subversion of the electoral process by the political class showed that  it was not ready for credible process.

    “The violence we witnessed during the election was not sponsored by the parents of the perpetrators, but by politicians and this was only targeted at subverting the election,” she added.

    Hailing INEC for its determination to conduct credible polls, the group praised Nigerians for their enthusiasm and determination to choose leaders of their choice in spite of the many challenges thrown their ways.