By Hassana Yakubu
Kaduna, Nov. 29, 2021(NAN) Mercy Corps and Kaduna State Peace Commission on Monday held a stakeholders sensitisation meeting to explore ways to end Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the forum, held in Kaduna, was attended by traditional leaders, security agents and women leaders.
It was convened through Mercy Corps’ Community Initiative to Promote Peace (CIPP) in collaboration with the peace commission, as part of 16 days activism to end violence against women.
The CIPP Chief at Mercy Corps, Mr David Gatare said the initiative was to build strong collaboration among critical stakeholders in addressing impediments to women’s peace and security, as well as peaceful coexistence.
Gatare said CIPP was lending its voice to the global campaign to end violence against women by mobilising relevant stakeholders in the state to own the advocacy.
According to him, the aim is to promote dialogue that seeks to end gender based violence, promote positive male engagement, and peaceful and safe communities in Kaduna state.
He said that the participants were drafted to carry on with the campaign because of their prominent roles at the grassroots level in promoting cohesion and peaceful coexistence.
“It is our hope we can synthesize best practices and approaches for responding effectively to gendered dimensions of conflict to inform appropriate intervention,” Gatare said.
He disclosed that a survey commissioned by Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre, revealed that Kaduna state was one of the three states that recorded highest number of incidence of sexual violence against women at the peak of the COVID-19 crisis.
He said gender base violence can negatively impact conflicts by fueling grievances, inducing trauma and dividing communities.
One of the participants, Mrs Ruth Magaji, the Chairperson, Women Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state, described the event as apt, as it was meant to galvanise action against gender based violence.
She cautioned against stereotyping of women, saying all sexes deserve equal opportunities to contribute to societal development.
Mrs Magaji said parents should instill values of decency in their children irrespective of gender, while couples must complement each other in all circumstances.
Mr Ayuba Abdullahi, a community leader in Kachia Local Government Area, appreciated the forum, saying the protection of community members should be pursued without discrimination.
“Communities should always engage with women when it comes to issue of peace as they are also key players to peaceful coexistence,” he added.
Abdullahi pledged to step down what he learned from the discussions to members of his community.
Another participant, Alhaji Yusuf Ja’afaru from Zaria, called for the continuation of the engagement and advocacy, to ensure the security and safety of not only women, but all segment of the society.
“I am really happy to have witnessed this event which is about peace and stability; anything that has to do with peace will bring together people from different aspects of life. God is always happy with this kind of gathering,” he said.
He urged government to work closely with traditional leaders and liaise with them whenever there is any serious issue of discussion regarding peace. (NAN)
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ICPC says 257 projects worth over N20billion were duplicated in 2021 budget
“Our findings indicate that the same malady of corruption afflicts executive as well as zip projects," he said.
President Buhari's N13 trillion 2021 budget had several line items that were repeated in other sections, according to Bolaji Owasanoye,Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Owasanoye says 257 projects amounting to N20.138 billion were duplicated in the 2021 budget.
TheCable reports that the ICPC chairperson made the disclosure while speaking at the third national summit on diminishing corruption in the public service.
He said the commission tracked 1,083 projects across the country.
The ICPC, he said, forced 67 contractors back to site and ensured completion of 966 abandoned projects worth N310 billion.
“Our findings indicate that the same malady of corruption afflicts executive as well as zip projects, thus undermining government projections, escalating the cost of governance and denying Nigeria value for money,” Owasanoye was quoted as saying.
“These maladies include poor needs assessment that disconnects projects from beneficiaries; false certification of uncompleted contracts as completed, deliberate underperformance of contracts, incessant criminal diversion and conversion of public property by civil servants, to name just a few.
“Other challenges relate to duplication of projects in the budget. ICPC review found that 257 projects amounting to N20.138bn were duplicated in the 2021 budget leading us to submit an advisory to the Honourable minister of finance which was promptly actioned by the minister to prevent abuse,” he added.
President Buhari has since presented his N16.39 trillion 2022 budget of 'Economic Growth and Sustainability' before a joint session of the national assembly.
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