BudgIT advocates media, CSO collaboration in fight against corruption

Zainab Iwayemi

BudgIT, a civil organization that utilizes technology in facilitating social change whilst also engaging citizens with institutional improvement, alongside CSOs present during a town hall meeting in Lagos have emphasized the importance of partnership for media, CSO and  related organizations in order  to reinforce fights against anti-corruption in Nigeria.

Speaking on the role of media and CSOs in checking public office holders, EldaDavid Kehinde Samuel, president-in-council, Nigerian Global Affairs Council, NiGAC noted that collaboration would enhance advocacy in the process that will lead to the formulation and re-enactment of anti-corruption laws required  in Nigeria.

According to him, there is a need for CSOs; who want to be strategic and intentional, to define a specific niche in order to get far. “when you have targeted need, that’s when you can get good funding. Having a niche makes it easy for people to identify what you are doing.” He said

Tolutope Agunloye, Deputy Manager, BudgIT spoke on the need for government to engage citizens on the utilization of funds; a function which BudgIT is currently fostering. He highlighted budget access, tracka, extractives and institutional support as phases which the organization has simplified to provide access to budgets and related public finance data, monitor projects, promote accountability as well as supports to organizations that are willing.

He noted that BudgIT, in its efforts helps to break down budget into simple infographics for people to understand whilst also stating that the town hall meeting is a place for disseminating information about community projects as most communities do not have access to this information due to problems of opaque system, poorly educated citizenry amongst other barriers.

Mary Omonoyan, a representative of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission, ICPC while presenting on the journey of anti-corruption fight, an ICPC perspective, revealed that the ICPC prevented N189 billion MDA personnel cost diversion in 2019/2020.

Establishing the difference between the ICPC and the EFCC, she defended that the ICPC has not been so popular because the EFCC deals more with public and has lots of acts bothering on economic crimes, while the ICPC has restricted functions.