By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and media, Tuesday, established an anti-corruption and accountability network for system strengthening in Anambra State.
The group, Anambra State Civil Society and Media Accountability and Anti-corruption Network on System Strengthening against Corruption, was founded through the support of International IDEA- Rule of Law and Anti-corruption (RoLAC II) programme.
Speaking at the programme held in Awka, the State capital, Anambra State Coordinator, International IDEA-RoLAC II programme, Mrs Josephine Onah, explained that the network would advocate for policy reforms and institutional strengthening measures aimed at preventing corruption, promoting transparency and accountability.
According to Onah, the network would among other things, engage with government agencies and international organisations for fully implementation of existing and proposed justice and anti-corruption and inclusivity laws, while amplifying the voice of the people, CSOs and media to that effect.
Some of the laws and actions bothering on Anti-corruption and justice sector reforms, including inclusivity which the network would assist to amplify were Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law, Public Procurement Law, Child Rights Law, Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL), Sexual assaults referral centre, Anambra State Disability Rights Law, Anambra State Anti-corruption Law, Anambra State Physical Responsibility law, and Anambra Public Complaints law.
She informed the meeting of a new model that RoLAC conceived for system strengthening for transparency and accountability in the state through coordinated approach under a Service Delivery Transparency Initiatives.
The approach, according to her, is meant to activate service delivery widows in various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) with a view of making them effective, having engaged with the state to commence service delivery initiatives at 6 model LGA and 3 health facilities under the State Ministry of Health.
"This is a key area we are leveraging the oversight and monitoring of CSOs and media partners to achieve," she stated.
On her part, the Anambra State Head of Service (HOS), Barr. Theodora Igwegbe, represented by Mrs Jessy Obuekwe, assured their readiness to support actions and programmes geared towards eradication of corruption to a barest minimum in civil service, governance and society.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the network and Director, Creative Minds Center for Youth and Community Development, Ms Ugochi Freeman, assured that her management team would work in collaboration with all members towards ensuring that objectives of the group were achieved.