By Abdulkareem Haruna

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria – On a sunny Saturday afternoon, 24th June 2023, Zubair Abdurrauf Idris, the Executive Director of Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC), looked out over a crowded room at Amada International Hotel, Old GRA Maiduguri. He saw a diverse group of individuals gathered from Borno State, all united by a common purpose: to fight corruption and promote good governance in their communities.

The town hall meeting, supported by the MacArthur Foundation, focused on addressing corruption in governmental and non-governmental organizations in the post-insurgency era in Borno State.

Participants recognized the importance of traditional institutions, faith-based organizations, and community involvement in combating corruption and promoting good governance.

As Idris listened to the discussions, he saw the passion and determination of the people in the room. They called for structural changes, urged traditional institutions to hold themselves accountable, and advocated for community journalism to highlight possible corruption issues faced by returning internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The meeting also acknowledged the efforts of NGOs working honestly in the post-insurgency era even as it encouraged the public and IDPs to report any wrongdoing by NGOs to anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC and the ICPC.

The Borno state government was widely commended for working all hours to ensure IDPs return home safely, even though participants agree that the process can be compromised hence it should still subjected to public and media scrutiny for accountability.

A family photo after the townhall meeting of corruption in government and NGO.

The participants called for proper scrutiny of NGO activities to ensure probity and accountability.

Idris, as the project manager of WAMAC, has been tirelessly fighting against corruption and promoting good governance in Nigeria.

He sees the town hall meeting as a significant step forward, as it brings together various stakeholders in a collective effort to address the challenges posed by corruption.

In a world where corruption is a global phenomenon, the people of Borno State, who have suffered heavily due to insurgency, are taking matters into their own hands. The meeting urged communities to monitor and report wrongdoings in project execution in their localities and encouraged them to speak out against corruption.

During the meeting, a lecturer from the Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri, Dr. Abdulnutallab Ado, discussed how corruption is prevalent amongst government officials and NGOs in Borno and Northeast Nigeria.

Dr Ado Speaks on Corruption in post insurgency era

He highlighted examples of corruption, such as alleged nepotism in the recruitment process by NGOs, diversion of palliatives intended for internally displaced persons (IDPs), and duplication of projects in government and NGO budgets. These corrupt practices are often concealed from the public due to the ongoing conflict and the pressure to survive.

As the event concluded, Radio Nigeria and Peace FM Radio, Maiduguri, a partner radio station of WAMAC, took the opportunity to speak to the attendees in their local languages, Kanuri or Hausa. The message was clear: “the fight against corruption starts with every individual, and together, we can make a difference”.

The town hall meeting represents a turning point for the people of Borno State, as they, for once, unite in their battle against corruption, championing transparency, accountability, and the betterment of their communities.

“With unwavering voices, we are determined to let the world know that we are ready to take on the challenges that lie ahead,” Mrs Khaltum a retired civil servant.

The participants noted that challenges can be as small as denying a qualified child of a visually impaired individual employment with an NGO because of their family background. However, the impact of such discrimination can be severe, potentially leading to the individual harboring negative feelings towards government and NGOs.

“It is crucial to address even such seemingly small issues of moral corruption to prevent larger consequences,” said Comrade Yusuf Tom, an official of the Network for Civil Society in Borno State (NECSOB).

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