Stakeholders in Nigeria’s anti-corruption ecosystem have called for strengthened collaboration between the media, anti-corruption agencies, and civil society organisations to enhance transparency and prevent systemic corruption.
The call was made at the end of a one-day workshop themed “Reinvigorating the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) 2022–2026: A Post-Assessment Roadmap for the Fourth Estate,” held in Abuja.
The workshop brought together key actors, including representatives of anti-corruption agencies, civil society organisations, and leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists from across the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Participants observed that corruption cannot be effectively tackled through prosecution alone, stressing the need for institutional reforms, ethical conduct, and transparency among citizens and public institutions.
They noted that although the NACS provides a robust framework for combating corruption, a gap still exists between policy implementation and public perception. This, they said, is due to weak coordination among agencies, inadequate public awareness, political interference, limited media engagement, and delays in the judicial process.
The communiqué also highlighted that the media is often underutilised in the prevention pillar of the strategy, with emphasis largely placed on reporting arrests rather than exposing systemic weaknesses that enable corruption.
Stakeholders further identified the untapped potential of digital forensic tools and artificial intelligence in strengthening investigative journalism, calling for their integration into anti-corruption efforts.
The workshop resolved that anti-corruption agencies should establish dedicated media desks to provide journalists with access to real-time, non-classified information to enhance transparency and evidence-based reporting.
It also called for capacity building programmes to equip journalists with skills to interpret key pillars of the NACS, particularly in public financial management and ethics compliance.
Participants urged the media to adopt preventive advocacy by shifting focus from prosecution-driven narratives to solution-oriented and developmental reporting.
They further advocated for the expedited passage of whistleblower protection legislation and the establishment of a tripartite monitoring committee comprising government, media, and civil society organisations to track progress of the strategy through quarterly reviews.
The participants commended the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other stakeholders for their commitment, while urging the Federal Government to adequately fund anti-corruption agencies.
They reaffirmed that a reinvigorated and empowered media is essential to achieving the goals of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy and building a corruption-free society.
