A group of concerned citizens, Citizens Participation Against Corruption Initiative, has called on the Karsina State Government to domesticate the extant Freedom of Information Act.

This was part of the group’s recommendation in their analysis report on the state’s ‘2023/2024 Anti-Corruption War,’ presented at a stakeholders’ meeting in Katsina on Friday.

 The meeting was part of the activities organised to commemorate the 2024 International Anti-Corruption Day.

 Presenting the report, the Executive Director of the group, Bishir Dauda, said that domesticating the act would enhance access to information in the state.

 Another recommendation he mentioned was that the government should regularly publish the resolutions of the State Executive Council’s meetings in the national dailies.

 He said, “The Annual Citizens’ Budget Sensitisation Town Hall meetings should be conducted in each of the 34 LLGAs of the state. The governor should from time to time hold a media parley with the state owned-media outfits to enable the citizens ask questions and make meaningful suggestions on how they are being governed. The state Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission should be adequately funded. Its staff should undergo retraining and capacity building regularly. Massive sensitisation against corruption can be done via multiple channels, including conventional and social media.”

 Mr Dauda suggested that rewarding dedicated civil servants by the state government should be sustained while the LGAs should follow suit.

 According to him, one of the highly recommended policies against corruption that is now enjoying full implementation in the state is the ‘Treasury Single Account.

Mr Dauda further said that the policy has continued to yield positive results by blocking financial leakages, adding, “It is helping the government to save a lot of funds. The implementation of TSA in Katsina is addressing financial profligacy in the public sector, making diversion of public funds nearly impossible. The take-off of the public complaints and anti-corruption is a right step towards institutionalising the anti-corruption war.

“The commission has just taken-off and has the better prospects to help not only the present administration rid the state of the cankerworm of corruption, but also the subsequent governments. We are living witnesses to the impact the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission is making. Thus, if given all the necessary support, including adequate funding, the Katsina Anti-Corruption commission will perform even better.’’

 On the open government partnership, which the state has already signed, Mr Dauda said it would enhance transparency, accountability and public engagement.

According to him, it will also empower the citizens to be actively involved in policy making, implementation, and will also attract development funds to the state.

Mr Dauda said, “The removal of human interface in revenue collection is also yielding positive impact as the state’s IGR is witnessing significant boost. This will no doubt reduce the state’s vulnerability in over-dependence on the Federal Account Allocation Committee. The state’s ministry of budget and economic planning has continued to organise town hall meetings annually across the state to generate input for the state’s budget proposal. This has been creating awareness, making the state annual budget pro-poor, and therefore reflecting the needs and aspirations of the greater majority of the citizenry, instead of a tiny class of elites.”

(NAN)