The fight against corruption is not just a Nigerian affair as today the 9th of December marks World Anti-Corruption Day. The day avails leaders and organizations all over to world to lend their voices to speak against the danger of corruption and how we can eradicate the monster so that posterity will not pronounce anathema on our names.
To mark the Day, Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action) seized the opportunity to continue to address the issues of corruption in Nigeria, especially in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). This is in continuation and an extension of the regular radio campaign against corruption aired on Wednesdays tagged THE VOICE ON NDDC where citizens are educated, sensitized and conscientized on their obligation to hold public duty bearers to account of their stewardship in government agencies like the NDDC.
Today’s “Radio Town Hall” the theme ‘International Anticorruption Day” was attended in the studio by Sophia Daniels, a Peace Building Analyst, Dele Oyewale, Head of Public Affairs of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Enefa George, President of the Civil Society Organization, Rivers State and Green Isaac of Social Action as host. The other attendees were listeners from the audience who joined in and contributed the telephone. All resources persons dealt with the issue of corruption in the commission, the part of the government and security agencies and the roles of the citizens of the Niger Delta. The speakers still buttressed the fact that the fight to end corruption is a collective responsibility and the need for the people to see the commission as their own and shun the idea of scrapping it as that may not solve the problem.
Thereafter, the organization through a rally took the campaign to the Port Harcourt Head office of the NDDC. Addressing pressmen and group members during the rally, Comrade Green Isaac, programs officer at Social Action reminded all present of the theme of the Anti-Corruption Day which is “Your Right, Your Role: Say No to Corruption.” According to him, this is the best time to speak up as the effect of corruption is costly and far-reaching. He lamented the fact that the commission which was set up to bring succour to the Niger Delta people, has caused them more harm than good. The following demands were made through a press statement:
- That the president constitutes a new Board of the Niger Delta Commission
- Publication of the forensic audit and prosecute erring contractors involved in project abandonment.
- Prosecute NDDC staff involved in fund misappropriations
- Publish names of contractors, location of contracts, companies and money involved in all abandoned contracts and also make its annual budget a public affair.
The rally was championed by the Civil Rights Council (CRC) and attended by the AntiCorruption Network (AcoNet), other Civil Society Organisations, and collaborators in Port Harcourt.