CACOL, CDHR, other Push For Transparency in Government

For several reasons, anti-corruption groups have charged the governments at all levels in Nigeria to be more open, transparent and development-focused.

The groups consisted of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership(CACOL), Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, and Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, again reiterated this call at a forum.itborganised in Lagos.

The right groups have also counselled government and leaders to make human rights and economic development their focus.

 Indeed, these critical issues, among others, were re-echoed on Tuesday in Lagos at an anti-corruption, transparency and human rights day.

 Speaking at the occasion, which took place at the Zone Event Centre, Gbagada, Lagos, Debo Adeniran, Chairman, Centre for Corruption and Open Leadership, was emphatic that the Nigerian people do not trust the government because of their failures to deliver good Democratic dividend to them over the years.

Adeniran, who is also the President, CDHR, urged the people to always challenge the government on their policies and programmes, while also decrying the fast degeneration of the society.

He said, "The Nigeria society is fast degenerating. Government should consciously remove those vestiges of degeneration to ensure a disciplined society."

Adeniran said there are several socio-economic issues to be urgently addressed in Lagos, for example.

According to him, traffic snarls, traffic robberies, bad roads are back in the commercial city, while rape, gender issues still threaten the city.

He said these challenges, which negatively affect the living conditions of the people should be urgently addressed to improve the living standard of the people.

He urged the governor of the state Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Oku to invest more in the people of the state to enhance development in sync with its THEMES and Mega City objectives.

In her goodwill message, Mrs. Ajibola A. Ijimakinwa, State Project Coordinator, Lagos Rule of Law Anti-Corruption Programme, RoLAC , said her organisation focuses among other issues, collaboration with the European Union to fight against gender issues, ensure rule of law, transparency and encouraging Lagos state government to do the needful for the people, among other issues.

There was also a panel of discussion, which x-rayed issues of corruption, describing it as a human right abuse, which should be exterminated from.our polity.

Mr. Segun Ogundeji, who represented the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, explained what government is doing to bring development to all the segments of the Lagos residence.

He said government efforts were always directed at enhancing the people's welfare.