Lokoja – Both the media and civil society organisations have been urged to focus more attention on ethics and integrity in their activities for a better Nigeria to emerge.
This is one of the suggestions contained in a communique issued at the end of a one-day workshop on ETHICS AND INTEGRITY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION held in Lokoja on Wednesday for the civil society organisations and media.
The workshop was organised by the Centre For Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR) .
The communique signed by the Executive Secretary of the CHRCR, Idris Miliki Abdul said the objective of the workshop was to examine the post 2023 elections on Ethics and Integrity in the fight against Corruption.
Participants observed that lack of enough ethics and integrity in the activities of the Civil Society Organization and Media has been creating a big vacuum in the acceptability of the service they render.
They further observed that the “INEC in the just concluded 2023 elections, has not improve on Ethics and Integrity, despite the improved provisions in the 2022 Electoral Act.
“That the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are not doing enough in the promotion of Ethic and Integrity.
“That platform of stakeholders, comprising different and relevant stakeholders are lacking, therefore creating a big vacuum in the fight against Corruption in the electoral and political process in Kogi State.”
The communique said the participants drawn from civil society organisations, media, women groups, religious organisations, youth groups among others stressed the need for stakeholders to work for more participation of Nigerians in democratic governance.
They recommended that the Civil Society Organisations be encouraged to work for popular participation, so as to increase democratic legitimacy because of their link to the citizens
They also urged greater accountability of public bodies or institutions between different community and social groups.
“The workshop urge Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to intensify their activities and apply ethics and integrity, to encourage voice and participation in core value, that promote Democratic Principles, Good Governance, Electoral Integrity and legitimacy
“Encourage at all political level, that political process or institutions must respect freedom of thought and association.
“The Media as the fourth Estate of the ream, as provided in section 22 of the 1999 as amended, were encourage to air and produce views, commentaries and information to enhance National Ethics and Integrity.
“To report issues of public interests in fair, accurate, unbiased, decent manner and language.
“Media were encourage to create products or programs which can enhance Ethics and Integrity.
“That stakeholders that comprises of Civil Society Organization (CSOs), Women Groups, Religious Institutions, Youth Groups etc should create a platform that will engage the governorship candidates in an open debate towards the 2023 November 11th Governorship election in Kogi State,” the communique said.
Participants at the workshop appreciated CHRCR and CISLAC for their consistency in the crusade against corruption and lack of probity with the continued support of John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.(vitalnewsngr.com)
