COVID-19: Group Tasks Govt For More Efforts

COVID-19: Group Tasks Govt For More Efforts

A  group of Civil Society Organisations (CSO), working to support government’s anti-corruption fight with the support of MacArthur Foundation, have pledged to support the Federal Government and the 36 states in the ongoing efforts to contain the spread of the Corona virus nicknamed (COVID-19) that has currently forced several nations to lockdown.

The coalition, which comprise Actionaid International, Nigeria; Action Health Incorporated (AHI), Centre for Women’s Health and Information (CEWHIN), Connecting Gender for Development (COGEN), Federation of Muslim Women’s Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) and others, while applauding the steps that government at different levels have taken so far in terms of technical, financial and social response, noted that the initial sum of N15 billion donated to support the fight against the Corona Virus pandemic is a significant contribution that puts Nigeria on the map of countries that are giving the pandemic the serious attention that it deserves.

The group in a statement jointly released on Wednesday, said it is however important to put in place accountability structures and measures that will ensure that the full value of this significant investment is realized, saying, “It is with this background that we call on the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, and all the state governors, their cabinet members and the entire government architecture to re-commit themselves to the fight against corruption even as we battle the Corona Virus pandemic”.

The group expressed readiness to render support through the various structures/mechanisms being put in place by the respective governments and work with the different community-based groups and individuals whom they have been working with over the years, to complement the efforts of government by monitoring the proposed Federal Government distribution of food packages to the households who have children in public schools and are current beneficiaries of the HGSFP in their various communities.  

The group also stated that it would share the findings of its involvement in the on-going exercise at different levels for learning and decision making purposes. Adding that government at different levels should consider this support as action for the common good of the Nigerian people.

Other groups in the coalition are Girl Child Concern (GCC), Nigerian Popular Theatre Alliance (NPTA), The Education Partnership Centre and (TEP CENTRE) and Women Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON)

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