UN, BudgIT, other inaugurate platform for fighting corruption in Nigeria

The United Nations Mission in Nigeria, BudgIT, a civic organisation, and the Religious Leaders Anti-Corruption Committee on Wednesday inaugurated a “Report Yourself” platform for fighting corruption in Nigeria.
The US Charge d’ Affairs in Nigeria, David Young, said at the inauguration in Lagos that the platform was meant to make Nigerians join in the ongoing fight against corruption in the country.
Young said: “Report Yourself will offer more Nigerians, the means to instantaneously report corruption, bribery and graft, with the option
of filing an official compliant with the Nigerian Police Public Complaints Response Unit.
“We hope that Report Yourself starts a new movement in citizens ‘engagement, and that every Nigerian that is being affected by corruption would be empowered to share their experiences.
“The tide will turn against the culture of corruption, when more Nigerians recognise that they must fight as one to stamp out this scourge that has hampered Nigeria’s development and stifled her prosperity.”
The Head of the Nigerian Police Public Complaints Response Unit, Abayomi Shogunle, said that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, had expressed readiness to support the corruption-reporting initiative.
Shogunle said that the Nigerian Police had already provided Nigerians the platform through which they should from time to time, report any
form of corrupt practices to the Police Public Complaints Unit.
He said: “We want Nigerians to use any of our provided platforms, to report any case of corruption to the police at all times.
“Let me say that the Inspector General of Police is really in support of this Report Yourself initiative.”
Shogunle also enjoined the public to always promptly report corrupt and erring police officers to the Unit for investigation and appropriate sanctions.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police also appealed to the media to sensitise Nigerians on the opportunities now at their disposal, for reporting corrupt Nigerians to the security agencies.
BudgIT Senior Manager of Projects, Stanley Achonu, said that the initiative was to make more Nigerians to volunteer themselves in supporting the Government’s ongoing effort at fighting corruption.
Achonu advised Nigerians to freely access the www.reportyourself.org platform to report any form of corruption in government and private
organisations and communities.
“Report Yourself’’ is a Web platform developed by BudgIT to offer Nigerians an opportunity to report instances of everyday bribery and graft, as well as for the celebration of Nigerians that shun corrupt practices.