Alliances for Africa (AFA), an African-led NGO, has advocated concerted efforts of media, civil society organisations (CSOs), community and religious leaders to strengthen anti- corruption strategies in Nigeria.
The AFA Communications Officer, Mrs Chinwendu Anozie, made the call in a statement issued in Enugu on Wednesday.
Anozie, who recalled that Nigeria ranks 148 out of a total of 176 countries of the world in Corruption Index, said that the country’s anti-corruption crusade would only succeed with various stakeholders joining forces.
According to her, the ugly menace of corruption stalls sustainable development, breeds fertile ground for economic instability and poverty.
She noted that factors that contribute to high level of corruption include weak public institutions, poverty, the scramble for resources, poor pay and incentives, ineffective political process.
According to her, others are absence of key anti-corruption tools and inadequate public awareness on the devastating effects of corruption.
She said:“ “To reverse the trend, interventions to address corruption in Nigeria must go beyond CSOs and government efforts as we see today.
““Here we are looking at government and private institutions, CSOs, the public, the parliamentarians and of course the media.
““The media in partnership with CSOs through its agenda setting initiatives can engage communities on public awareness against anti-corruption at Village Squares’, arranging for dialogues between communities and constituency leaders and gingering effective legislation among others.
“”We need to engage them in dialogue to promote knowledge whilst highlighting measures to improve integrity and transparency in business and encourage linkages between businesses to promote collective action in the private and public sectors to tackle corruption.
““AFA is optimistic that consistent engagement of government institutions by the media and CSOs can promote the rule of law in the anti-corruption crusade and subsequently will build strong and transparent institutions that will turn the tide against corruption.’’ (NAN)
