By: Tolulope Oluwole
Wadata Media and Advocacy Center (WAMAC) with the support of MacArthur Foundation on Saturday, held a One day sensitization training for Stakeholders and community leaders in Ondo state on anti-corruption war at a town hall meeting which took place in Akure.
The theme of the town hall meeting is “Issues Of Systemic Corruption In Public And Private Sectors: A Deep Dive Into Electricity Sector In Ondo State.”
In his welcome address, the Executive Director/Project Manager of WAMAC, Zubair Abdulra’uf Idris said that corruption is not only synonymous with monetary terms but also certain ‘moral acts’ and inappropriate behaviors of public servants towards Service Delivery.
Accoding to him, the issues of corruption in Nigeria is as a result of colonialism by the Britain, who only taught Nigerians English for easy communication and Arithmetic’s to measure farm produce and cotton of the locals at the dictate of the colonial authorities.
He added that “Nigerians have our own portion of blame of systemic corruption in the country, as service delivery in Nigeria has been generally on leap service state.
“Since the after the privatization of electricity sector in 2014 and the unbundling of the ‘almighty NEPA’, the new helmsmen, Electricity Distribution Companies, crowned themselves as emperors and untouchable”.
“The government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his magnanimity due outcry by the public signed an act that would reduce the monopoly of the Electricity Distribution Agency. But this is not enough, until all the EDC’s account for the monumental fraud they committed, particularly putting businesses and people into darkness.
“In the last four years Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC) with the support of MCArthur Foundation based in Chicago (USA) has embark on advocacy through investigative reporting and programmes on alleged corruption and promotion of Good Governance in partnership with twelve radio stations across the six geo-political zones in Nigeria in local languages.
“It is our hope that, our various communities will owned the fight against corruption and demand for accountability by political leaders. In the same vain, communities and community leaders are expected to take the lead of sensitizing there respected domain on corruption and hold themselves accountable,” said Abdulra’uf Idris.
He, however, urged community leaders and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to cooperate with Journalists in carrying out investigative reports on the fight against corruption.
“While communities are obliged to owned the fight against corruption. Equally, we urge the public, journalists and CSOs to make use of Fol Act which ensure participatory democracy, promotion of Transparency and Accountability in the affairs of government”, he said.
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, in Ondo State, Ezekiel Son-Allah who was represented by Mrs Temitope Adewole opined that the training was an eye opener as it gives the participant the opportunity to know that they are saddled with some responsibilities.
Representing the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadagesin Ogunoye, High Chief Babalola commended efforts of the organizers of the training, urging the stakeholders to extend what they have learnt to other people.
The Guest Speaker, Mr Eket Obonga, the National Secretary of Nigeria Electricity Consumer Advocacy Network (NECAN) revealed that Corrupt practices have become a way of life in Nigeria.
Obonga said “Corporate entities, service providers in the Power Sector are not immuned to this destructive canker, which has permeated every facet of our national life.
“While the meter serves as a revenue assurance tool for the NESI service providers and a resource management tool for end-use customers that receive services, non-metering therefore robs the sector of the much needed revenue to drive development and expansion of the market.
“Until we embark on massive consumer awareness drive to educate the larger segment of the population so long will the evil of corruption spread its tentacles,” Obonga said.
“The Commission and its regulatory instruments have to be rejigged and strengthened to perform its functions of ensuring compliance with the Orders and Regulations that has been put in place to protect the customers and sanctions meted out to Service Providers who breach them.”
The participants were drawn from the Media, Civil Society Organizations, Community-Based Organizations, Religious and Community leaders as well as the National Orientation Agency {NOA}, the Federal Road Safety Corps {FRSC}, Market Women association led by the Iyaloja of Ondo State, Erelu Adekanye and People With Disabilities (PWDs).
