ICPC wants traditional, community leaders to be voice of the voiceless
Story from Ahmad SAKA, Bauchi
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, has charged monarchs, religious leaders and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to stand as a voice to the voiceless by calling the attention of relevant authorities to the plight and conditions of ordinary people in rural communities.
Professor Balaji gave the advice at a one-day sensitisation dialogue with traditional rulers, religious leaders and civil society organisations tagged National Ethics, Constituency and Executive Tracking Initiative for Positive Behavioural Change, organised by the ICPC in collaboration with the Bauchi State Chapter of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and State Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs with support from the MacArthur Foundation, which held at the Hazibal Suites in Bauchi.
Owasanoye, represented by a member of the ICPC Board, Dr Solomon Louis Mandama said that the design and implementation of the National Ethics and Integrity Policy (NEIP) identified and recognised monarchs, religious leaders and civil society organisations as critical stakeholders in its promotion.
He said they formed critical groups of those who were closest to the people at the grassroots and are a great deal of influence in initiating and sustaining behavioural change among the people, adding that they play crucial roles in the development of their various communities.
“After His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari launched the National Ethics and Integrity Policy (NEIP) in September 2020, the first critical stakeholders, the ICPC and its collaborating partners met with the course of promoting the policy and canvassing their support to enable a nationwide success. In its promotion, was the National Council of Traditional Rulers at its meeting in Kano State.
“The agency had met with some stakeholders since the initiative was launched in 2020, to sensitise various stakeholders on the NEIP as it was going to be continuous and would be at the national and sub-national levels. In keeping with that promise, throughout the year 2021, starting with the FCT, we engaged all stakeholders including traditional rulers, religious leaders, CSOs, NGOs, youth organizations, women groups, professional associations, civil servants and the media amongst others on the best way to promote the policy,” he said.
The Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner, ICPC, Bauchi state, Baba Gali Rogi, stated that the sensitisation dialogue is a follow-up to a similar dialogue that was held on the 18th of May 2021, where stakeholders robbed minds together and discussed some critical government policies that would assist in curbing the menace of corruption and entrenching good ethical values in the society.
Rogi said that the agency in its recognition of the pivotal value re-orientation plays in the fight against corruption, ICPC in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Bauchi State Ministry for Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs organised the sensitisation dialogue to educate the participants on the activities of ICPC through various initiatives aimed at ensuring a corrupt free society.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va74ZvU2v1IqKByXoX3d
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
