Lorine Emenike
A group of Civil Society Organizations in Rivers state have expressed disappointment over the competence of government officials in Rivers State government.
The group expressed worry over the stewardship of Rivers State government officials due to the perpetual Injunction obtained by the Former Governor of the state Dr Peter Odili.
The injunction has prevented the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) from investigating activities of the state government.
The group, River anti-corruption network and a coalition of civil societies organisation in partnership with Mac Arthur Foundation working to advance the fight against corruption in Rivers state said they have been tracking state government contracts, federal constituencies projects around the 23 LGAs.
They said that they have equally taken steps towards ensuring quality service delivery in the polity.
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The program officer of social Development Integrated Center Green Isaac at the press briefing held in Port Harcourt on Friday said their focus is on monitoring projects by government officials within and outside the state.
He lamented that those who are in the position to showcase or give information to the public have declined to provide any information at all to civil societies organizations despite the bill on freedom of information, FOI.
He noted that a good example is the abandoned monorail project by the past administration of CHIBUIKE AMAECHI, where every detail is shrouded in secrecy yet the project has been unaccounted for.
Green Isaac said the group is worried that since the perpetual Injunction obtained by the former governor, Dr Peter Odili against the EFCC AND ICPC, the group has been unable to make Rivers state officials accountable for their stewardship while in and out of office.
The group, therefore, demands that the EFCC and ICPC vacate the perpetual Injunction placed against an investigation of Rivers state government officials to enable the tracking of their activities while in office to enable accountability.
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They also demanded that special corruption tribunal be set up to adjudicate on corruption cases in order to take up petitions of reported corrupt government officials.
Also, they asked that the government of Rivers state makes the state budget processes open for citizen’s participation
The group asked that Rivers state government makes the state budgets available and accessible to the citizens and public.
They said some of the projects contained in Rivers state 2018 budgets allegedly awarded and monies disbursed but not executed include the construction of Landings jetty at Abyssa in Akuku Toru LGA, Clearing of the site for the new government-approved schools Borokiri.
Others are the renovation of staff quarters at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, rehabilitation of staff quarters at Elechi Amadi polytechnic PHC and the construction of Annex building to senate block at Rivers State.
