A Lagos-based radical rights group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), not too long ago held its campus interactive session tagged: ‘Stand up Against Corruption’, which consequently led to SERAP, inaugurating its accountability club in various tertiary institutions in Nigeria to join the fight against corruption.
Specifically, the interactive session which was held in Lagos, Nigeria, together with the Luminate Foundation, saw the nomination of students from various tertiary institutions across the country.
According to SERAP, the event is intended at promoting the inclusion of students and student bodies in accountability processes and creating awareness among students on procedures/ strategies for activating accountability mechanisms, contributing to the fight against corruption, improving transparency and accountability in the management of public resources, and respect for human rights.
The session, SERAP said, is equally aimed at fostering a 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, particularly in monitoring the execution of government and constituency projects.
While the interactive session lasted, the invited students from some selected tertiary institutions across the country suggested different ways and channels to mobilise Nigerians in the fight against corruption.
The students particularly brainstormed on the way and manner to confront corruption within their universities and localities to promote the rule of law, transparency, and accountability in the system, especially the execution of projects and social goods and services meant for the citizens.
Among others, some measures suggested at the interactive session that the SAC should adopt include monitoring the execution of government and Constituency projects within their universities and localities; a direct approach to contractors handling such projects on the need for quality work; creating awareness to citizens to know and demand their constitutional rights to social goods and services such as potable water, education, and health services.
Other measures recommended include peaceful protest, a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate suspected embezzlement/diversion of funds meant for projects and poor execution of quality projects.
At the end of the session, some student representatives from the invited tertiary institutions were called out and inaugurated under the auspices of SERAP ACCOUNTABILITY CLUB (SAC) to carry out the assignment for mobilising students in their institution in the fight against corruption, to be able to meet the prevailing need for effective public involvement and participation in promoting transparency and accountability in the use of public resources.
All rights reserved. This material and other digital volumes on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from THE NEWS ACCELERATOR NETWORK.
Contact: thenewsacceleratornetwork@gmail.com or 08033599492.
Post a Comment