The Resource Center for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has consistently educated citizens in various communities in Kano state on approaches to hold the government accountable in the delivery of constituency projects in their localities.
The center’s overarching aim via its various anti-corruption initiatives has used a citizen’s based approach to engaged citizens at grassroots levels with their lawmakers in a bid to foster accountability, transparency and inclusiveness in Kano state’s constituency projects value chain.
While speaking to newsmen on the feat, Comrade Ibrahim Zikirullahi, the executive director of the center stated that various communities across the 44 Local Government Areas of Kano have since 2021 been engaged in accountability report back sessions, stakeholder consultative meetings, advocacies, community enlightenment workshops, amongst others.
He said “CHRICED has provided critical stakeholders with the necessary skills, information, and knowledge to hold public officials accountable for the use of public funds for constituency projects. The center has also been engaging key government stakeholders such as legislators, relevant ministries, agencies and departments, and anti-corruption agencies.
“In accordance with one of the project’s objectives of amplifying community voices, against corruption, CHRICED has been broadcasting a weekly radio program which has provided a forum for local community members to speak out, demand accountability, and discuss the status of constituency projects in their various localities either as guests in the program or by phoning in, via the live broadcast.”
Comr. Zikirullahi further stated that in seeking accountability from certain government officials and public office holders, they purposely constrained access to information by deliberately being unavailable, which caused hitches in the accountability process.
He pointed out that the actions of these officials violate section 16(5) of the amended Nigerian constitution of 1999 which states that; “state shall abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power.”
“As we continue to engage these categories of stakeholders through thorough advocacy and dialogue, we hope to secure either their buy-in and support to overcome these obstacles.” He concluded.
