Mobilise Public Support for Passage of Pending Anti- Corruption Bills, Media Told

Media professionals across the country have been enjoined to mobilise public support for the demand by anti-corruption stakeholders on the 7th National Assembly to speedily pass pending anti-corruption legislations.

These pending legislations include the Proceeds of Crime (POCA), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Centre (NFIC) and Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) bills. Others which are in different stages before the National Assembly include the Witness Protection Bill and the Whistleblowers Bill.

The Media was also urged to collaborate with civil society organisations (CSOs) to promote democratic accountability by tracking, documenting and monitoring the fulfillment of campaign promises by elected officials at all levels of government in the country.

These calls were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a two-day Media Roundtable on Anti-corruption Reportage held in Ikeja Lagos, organised by the Justice For All Programme (J4A) for media and CSOs stakeholders to advance the anti-corruption agenda.

In the communiqué jointly signed by Messrs. Emeka Ononamandu of the Citizens Centre for Integrated Development and Social Rights and Abimbola Akosile of THISDAY Newspaper, participants noted that there are growing global concerns on the negative effects of corruption on the stability and security of countries, as well as challenges that it poses for development, democratic consolidation, and the institutionalisation of ethical values, rule of law and social justice.

In Nigeria, several anticorruption legislation meant to address this menace appear to have failed. More seriously, corruption has weakened the capacity of the legal system to decisively tackle the problem, the forum also observed.

Consequently, participants resolved that the media should be guided by professional standards and ethics in reporting corruption; and should track budgets and monitor the implementation, particularly in relation to key sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, development and poverty eradication, which often attract additional resources from donors.

The media was also urged to monitor and report on public procurement to ensure that the processes meet with legal requirements including open, fair and competitive bidding, and to develop the capacity to access information on revenue flows and operations of the extractive industry where corruption is widespread.

“The media should exercise oversight over anti-corruption institutions, law enforcement agencies and the Judiciary, in order to ensure that the bodies fulfill the mandates for their establishment.

“The media should support advocacy for institutional and legislative reforms aimed at strengthening the anti-corruption processes especially by galvanising public opinion towards making citizens active stakeholders in the fight against corruption.

“The media should consistently incorporate the human and social angles into anti-corruption reporting by stating the losses to society while also giving such reports prominence. The media should be familiar with and use various international instruments aimed at promoting transparency and fighting corruption”, the communiqué added.