By Chukwuka Ugokwe :
Civil Society organisations CSOs and the Media have collaboratively agreed to work out operational framework to strengthen the war against corruption in Anambra State.
The commitment was reached in Awka when representatives from the two bodies met to fine tune new strategies to fight the battle under “Civil Society And Media Accountability And Anti Corruption Group”
The event held at the Best western Meloch Hotels,was organised by the Rule Of Law Anti Corruption Programme (ROLAC), funded by the European Union and being implemented by the International Institute For Democracy And Electoral Assistance, International IDEA.
We gathered that the collaborative meeting was aimed to deepening mutual cooperation and synergize efforts for greater impact in the anti-corruption drive.
Speaking during the event, the State Project Coordinator, ROLAC, Mrs Josephine Onah, expressed the readiness of the international body to provide the needed support services in the interest of eradicating corruption in the state.
While underscoring the importance of the collaboration, Onah added that the engagement meeting presented an opportunity for the review of the activities of anti corruption committees in Ministries, departments and agencies.
“We are activating everything, everything tool, every methodology and every system that enables transparency, that enables accountability, that enables integrity to thrive.
“ROLAC had supported the state government in putting in place a number of strategies to fight corruption ranging from developing a home grown anti corruption strategy that has a number of pillars.
“We supported the enactment of the public procurement law so as to establish that international practices when it comes to procurement having the ideal situation. We set up anti corruption committees in Ministries, departments and agencies”
The Coordinator who spoke extensively on plans to move the anti graft fight to the next level, urged CSO/Media to work together for a good course.
In a goodwill message, the State Head of Service, Bar Theodore Igwegbe, represented by Bar Tessy Obuekwe, expressed the support of the state government to the initiative aimed at reducing corruption to the barest minimum, assuring of its maximum cooperation.
Spokespersons of the Civil Society Organisations and the Media, Mrs Ugochi Freeman and Mr Gab Okpalaeze, respectively stated their unwavering commitment to network and champion the fight against corruption in the state, affirming that they would play expected roles.
A Resource Person, Samuel Ololo, Creative Minds, highlighted importance of collaboration in addressing key issues centered on designing a harmonized framework for anti corruption activities, with the shared goal of enhancing transparency and public awareness.
Highpoints of the event were group work and formation of of CSOS/Media Accountability And Anti Corruption Group.
