By Tukur Muntari
Kano – Mrs Mufuliat Fijabi, the Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Women’s Trust Fund (NWTF), has called on Nigerians especially women to support the current administration in the fight against corruption.
She made the call in a paper she presented at a one-day stakeholders meeting on institutionalising anti-corruption and accountability from a gender perspective held in Kano on Thursday.
Fijabi stressed the need for Nigerians to support the fight against corruption in all its ramifications for the country to attain the height of honour and greatness.
She said that lack of even development and non-inclusion of vulnerable groups in the democratic governance had brought out the damaging effects of corruption and lack of accountability.
“Since the attainment of independence, the presentation of women in the governance system has not exceeded 10 per cent, while there is only 5.6 per cent of Women in elective positions, “she said.
She said that the anti-corruption and accountability measures in a democratic process is an important tool used in monitoring real time productivity of public officials and institutions.
“Accountability and anti-corruption measures are also important because they provide a democratic means to evaluate a government’s conduct.
“It also prevents the development of concentrations of power and enhance the learning capacity and effectiveness of public administration.
“More significant is the fact that corruption and lack of accountability lead to unequal access to power, resources and positions between men and women,” she said.
Also speaking, Dr Amina Lawan, a lecturer with the Centre for Gender Studies, Bayero University, Kano, blamed the prevalent cases of corruption in the country on the high level of poverty.
She stressed the need for women to support the fight against corruption to move the country forward.
