COMMUNIQUE OF CIVIL SOCIETY REPRESENTATIVES AT THE END OF CRS ANTI CORRUPTION SUMMIT

[BEN USANG]

A COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE SPECIAL EVENT EVALUATION MEETING OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL/CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS THAT PARTICIPATED AT THE CROSS RIVER STATE ANTI-CORRUPTION SUMMIT       HELD AT THE CHANNEL VIEW HOTEL ON THE 12^TH OF JULY,2017

 

PREAMBLE

 

On the 12^th of July,2017, The Cross River State Anti-corruption Summit was held in Calabar with the Theme: Institutionalization of Good Governance for Sustainable Development. The event was organized by the independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in conjunction with the Government of Cross River State, with the support of the Foundation for Transparency and Accountability. The Governor of Cross River State was the Summit’s Chief Host, the Minister of Information and Culture was the Special Guest of Honour, while the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC) was the Keynote Speaker. Participants at the Summit were drawn from the members of the Cross River State Executive Council, Religious Organisations, Senior Civil Servants from the Cross River State Civil Service, National Orientation Agency and Non-Governmental/ Civil Society Organisations(CSOs) in the state. At the conclusion of the Summit, Representatives of Civil Society Organisation decided to come together to share their observations, review and evaluate the outcome of the Summit, present their position on the Summit and make suggestions to the Government and the   Organisers of the Summit to chart a way forward.

OBSERVATIONS

At the end of their meeting, the CSO representatives observed the following:

1. That the Summit Programme of activities was not adequate as it lacked key activities that would have ensured that the event was a more effective learning experience. Activities such as Focused Group Discussions, Case Study Presentations on the theme, Paper Presentations by Presenters from different backgrounds and Viewpoints did not take place;
    
2. That the opening prayer by a participating priest excited the audience because his words were very relevant to addressing the negative impact of corruption in the society;
    
3. That the style of the delivery of the Keynote address by the speaker caused the audience to pay attention to the speech and resulted in many questions and comments on the different dimensions on the fight against corruption;
    
    
4. That the Summit started about one hour behind the scheduled time though the event was still concluded within the timeline due to proper time management by the organisers;
    
5. That the Unveiling of the Anti-Corruption Campaign in the State by the ICPC and the distribution of the Anti-Corruption symbols and tools such as car stickers, arm barns, posters were enthusiastically embraced by the participants;
    
6. That no Communiqué or Declaration was developed at the Summit to disseminate the outcome and decisions of the summit as is expected of such events;
    
7. That there was no opportunity for the submission of Memoranda or Conference by Interested person on the theme of the Summit;
    
    
    
8. That the Panel Discussion listed on the Summit’s Programme was not adequately carried out just as the opportunity for participants response was not adequate with only very few participants given chance to make any comments or ask questions;
    
    
9. That the recently approved National Anti-Corruption Strategy though highlighted at the Summit by the Chairman of ICPC, was not circulated to the participant at the event;
    
    
10. That there will be a significant impact on the fight against corruption in the State and the attitude towards corruption due to the high number of the civil servants and political appointee in the state who attended the summit and embraced the launch of the state declaration;
     
     
11. That the fight against Corruption in Cross River State is being enhanced by the existence of a functional Public Finance Management Law, a Harmonised Tax Law,Procurement Law, An independent Office for Due Process and price Intelligence in the award of Contract, a Ministerial Single Account(MSA) Policy in place, a successful Computer Based Verification of Public Sector Workers that resulted in the discovery of more than eight hundred ghost workers and more than one thousand pensioner;
     
     
12. That provision was not granted to any representative of the Civil Society to give a Good will message at the Summit despite the significant role the Civil Society has played in the fight against corruption due to its Non Partisan status, its commitment in the fight against corruption and the championing of the cause of the victims of corruption.
     
     
    RECOMMENDATIONS/SUGGESTIONS
     
    At the end of the meeting, representatives of the Civil Society Organisations present made the following recommendations from observing the outcome of the summit:
     

1. That riding on the acceptance of the Anti-Corruption Message in the state, The State Government Should engage with all relevant stakeholders in the fight against corruption and develop an Anti-Corruption Strategy for the State that will have the approval of the State Executive Council,  the State House of Assembly and other Non-State Actors across the State;
    
2. That the State Government Should adopt best practices from other states in the Federation that enshrines Transparency and Accountability in Resource Management and Budget Implementation;
    
3. That the State should hold quarterly stakeholders Meetings on the fight against corruption as an institutional and Sustainable follow up to the Anti-Corruption Summit with the purpose of Evaluating and Reviewing efforts and actions in the State to curb corruption in all the sectors of society and how this efforts and actions can be enhanced. This meetings should be organized by a Multi-Stakeholders Committee from all relevant sectors of society;
    

CONCLUSION

At the end of the meeting the representatives of the Civil Society Organisations commended the prompt response of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Civil Society/NGOs for mobilizing the Civil Society Organisations to participate in the Summit despite the short notice given to him and without any provision for Transportation re-imbursement to those he invited. They assured the Special Adviser of better collaboration with his office for an effective representation of the sector including but not limited to further interventions in the fight against corruption in the state. They appreciated his dedication to duty and his willingness to address the meeting without prior notice and other engagements at the same time.

Signed:                                                                                                      Date: 12^th July, 2017

Leader BEN USANG

(On behalf of the Representatives of Civil Society Organisations)

[BEN USANG]