The Akin Fadeyi Foundation, in partnership with the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, took the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre by storm recently as it launched a mobile and web application, FLAG’IT, which enables government institutions embrace transparency and accountability.
The project, supported by the MacArthur Foundation, was launched on Thursday, October 10, 2019.
With the FLAG’IT app, citizens can conveniently express their grievances on poor service delivery and get remedy within reasonable time. The app also has a feature for documenting positive encounters with credible and outstanding public officers. The goal, which the AFF seeks to achieve through the platform, is to bring citizens closer to government and its agencies.
The launch was attended by representatives from civil society organisations, government agencies, the media, schools and members of the general public.
The Executive Director of the AFF, Akin Fadeyi, was represented by Simon Kolawole, Founder/CEO, The Cable, also Chairman, Board of Trustees Akin Fadeyi Foundation.
In his speech, Fadeyi reiterated the goal of the AFF to ensure that Nigeria becomes a country where every citizen is fulfilled and able to utilize their human and social capital to the fullest. The Executive Director highlighted the series of collaboration and sensitisation activities which his organisation has been executing to re-orientate Nigerians towards embracing the culture of honesty and hard work.
Speaking at the event, the Corps Marshall of the FRSC, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi,decried the prevalence of corruption in the country but noted that the FRSC has been working hard to ensure that the agency is rid of the cancer.
The acceptance of the Commission to use the app, Boboye continued, was an effort to advance its policy of zero tolerance for corruption by its staff, even as he urged other government agencies to take advantage of the anti-corruption app to make Nigeria a better and cleaner society.
The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, represented by his Special Adviser on the Rule of Law, Fatima Waziri-Azi, commended the FLAG’IT app innovation, saying it aligned with the government’s commitment to fighting corruption because it keys into the national anti-corruption strategy.
In his keynote address, the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption (PACAC), Professor Itse Sagay, acknowledged the role of civil society organisations in fighting corruption. He likened their absence in the anti-corruption frontline to trying to control a surging flood and aggressive erosion with palm tree.
Dr Kole Shettima, the Africa Director of MacArthur Foundation, commended the Akin Fadeyi Foundation and the FRSC for the successful partnership, stating that Nigerians have a responsibility to make the country what they want without always waiting for those in leadership positions.
Making reference to a survey conducted by the UN and the National Bureau of Statistics in 2016, Dr Shettima emphasised the significance of the FLAG’IT app as a strategic tool in fighting the war against corruption. This is because the survey showed that bribery is prevalent in Nigeria, especially among traffic management agencies.
The Publisher of PREMIUM TIMES, Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi, who anchored the main launch of the app, spoke about furthering the role of investigative journalism in Nigeria’s search for accountability. He emphasized the need to nurture investigative journalism, and observed that technology could help drive it.
Dr Chido Onumah, Executive Director, AFRICMIL.A, moderated a panel discussion on The Benefit of Institutional Collaborations in Fighting Corruption. The panel had, as discussants, Ajuri Ngelale, Special Assistant to the Vice President on Public Affairs, Ramatu Umar Bako, Head of Public Engagement, OXFAM, Ademola Adigun, Oil Governance Consultant, and Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director, CISLAC, also the Board Chair, Transparency International . They all shared their perspectives on how collaborations between CSOs and government can aid the war against corruption in Nigeria.
The FLAG’IT app makes provision for agencies of the government, like the Police Force, Federal Civil Service, etc. to directly connect with citizens. The process, according to the AFF, is quite simple. Profiles are created for government or private agencies that sign up on the app – and users are able to select and make direct reports, complaints or give a commendation to relevant agencies. Through the platform, agencies are able to assign an official to act on each case and initiate a one-on-one communication with complainants.
