The United States Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria in collaboration with BudgIT, a local Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), recently launched a web-based anti-corruption platform, ‘Report Yourself’ to leverage citizen engagement to the fight against corruption in Nigeria. The partnership to promote ‘Report Yourself’ includes the Religious Leaders Anti-Corruption (RLAC) working group and law enforcement agencies.
BudgIT developed the anti-corruption initiative ‘Report Yourself’, which was funded by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement.
Bishop Emma Isong, national publicity secretary, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and member RLAC, in his remarks said the inter-religious approach to fight corruption is what Nigeria needs to win the war against corruption. “It is on us religious leaders who meet the people every Sunday to speak against corruption,” he said.
Imam Shefiu, member RLAC Steering Committee while speaking from the Muslim perspective on corruption said, “In Islam, we always seek refuge against the accused Satan. The Satan in Nigeria is corruption. The US State department has given us the mindset and motivation to lead the fight against corruption with this collaboration”.
David Young, U.S. Chargé d’ Affaires, while speaking on the platform opined that Report Yourself puts the power to report corruption in the hands of the Nigerian people.
“I hope that Report Yourself starts a new movement in citizen engagement and I hope every Nigerian who is affected by corruption will feel empowered to share their experiences. The tide will turn against the culture of corruption when Nigerians recognize that they must fight as one to stamp out this scourge that has hampered development and stifled prosperity,” he said.
Young however urged Nigerians to demonstrate their commitment to the fight against corruption by making use of the innovative online platform, which seeks to address the daily instances of corruption faced, by millions of Nigerians.
“Through the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, we are working to increase the capacity of Nigerian law enforcement agencies and the justice sector in Nigeria,” said Chargé Young.
Report Yourself offers Nigerians the means to instantaneously report corruption, bribery, and graft with the option of filing an official compliant with the Nigerian Police Force Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit (NPF PCRRU), and a feedback.
Abayomi Shogunle, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Head NPF PCRRU, said Report Yourself is a community based multi-reporting platform, and therefore solicits media support for the PCRRU activities at no extra cost on the public.
While Felix Morka of SERAC said the fight against corruption should not be left to the government alone. According to Morka, the fight against corruption deserves a collective collaboration. “The days when corruption is fashionable and celebrated is over,” he concludes.
Seyi John Salau
