UVOBPI-TEAMCO: Monitoring-Observation-Advocacy Mission: "We are growing from strength to strength”

By Dansu Peter 

Mr. Femi Senu, a Security Expert and Political Violence Analyst Addressing members at the conference meeting 

The United Voice of Badagry People Initiative – Transparency Empowerment Accountability Management Communication and Organisation, Mission and Vision. This dedicated team has been working behind the scenes since October 2020 and has in last weekend held the 7th UVOBPI-TEAMCO Conference meeting. 

UVOBPI-TEAMCO members conference meeting entitled "We are growing from strength to strength” was held on Saturday 24th April 2021 as planned with members joining, include delegates in diaspora. The conference started at approximately 12:30pm - Nigeria and UK time and ended at 14.00pm with much positive feedback. Among the topics covered was an introductory module to a training section covering: The United Voice of Badagry People Initiative – Transparency Empowerment Accountability Management Communication and Organisation – Monitoring-Observation-Advocacy Mission (UTMOAM). This introductory module section explained UTMOAM’s System that the team has in place. This covered UTMOAM’s procedures and processes connecting TEAMCO at a National, State and local/community level in Badagry. Mr. Femi Senu, a Security Expert and Political Violence Analysist (an Author, Associate Researcher) Mr. Femi Senu, a Security Expert and Political Violence Analysist (an Author, Associate Researcher) explained in detail UTMOAM’s Quality Management System in relation to the procedures and processes connecting TEAMCO’s programmes and projects at a local level. 

The content highlighted many areas where UVOBPI – TEAMCO can collaborate with the United nation Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) Chapters focusing on monitoring, observation and advocacy mission covering from: National to state, local and to community levels. The discussion highlighted the areas where UTMOAM can, and in many ways collaborate with UNCAC Chapters and Articles with focus to:

• UVOBPI – TEAMCO Civil Society Organisations (CSO) work

• Connecting local community and what the advocacy work will do, and explaining these in 4 steps using Chapter II - Preventive Measures (Covering articles 5-14), and Chapter III - Criminalisation and law enforcement (Covering articles 15-42)

Mr. Senu highlighted how UTMOAM targets these Chapters, and in particular Chapter III in line with UNCAC Articles such as bribery and corruption of public national officials; bribery of foreign public officials and officials of public international organizations; Embezzlement; trading in influence; illicit enrichment; abuse of functions; to mention a few. A detailed discussion covering the Articles summarised with UTMOAM Target specific in these areas and aspects of UNCAC Chapter III were discussed, such as: 

• Article 15. Bribery of national public officials

• Article 16. Bribery of foreign public officials and officials of public international organizations

• Article 17. Embezzlement, misappropriation or other diversion of property by a public official

• Article 18. Trading in influence

• Article 19. Abuse of functions

• Article 20. Illicit enrichment

• Article 21. Bribery in the private sector

• Article 22. Embezzlement of property in the private sector

Mr. Senu considered Chapter IV - International Cooperation (Covering articles 43-50), Chapter V - Asset Recovery (Covering articles 51-59). The discussion recognised the benefits which Chapter VI - Technical Assistance and information exchange (Covering articles 60-62); Chapter VII - Mechanism for Implementation (Covering articles 63-64) offered. Lastly, Chapter VIII - Final provision (Covering articles 65-71) was briefly discussed. 

It was recognised that UNCAC offered state parties who had signed to be part of these international laws an independent opportunity to use UNCAC’s instruments to better perform in their independent states but those states that have ratified the UNCAC have not effectively used                             UNCAC or vaguely used the law to improve domicile legislation performance. Nigeria has an excessive amount of legislation against corruption and an excessive amount of institutions and bodies in place to fight corruption but has failed to effectively enforce the rule of law against corruption. Nigeria has failed to reduce systemic corruption and failed to fight against factors connecting corruption to economic development, social justice, inequality and insecurity across the country. Notably, Boko Haram in northern Nigeria continues to be a threat.  

Nigeria signed the UNCAC on 9 December 2003 and ratified it on 14 December 2004. Nigeria deposited its instrument of ratification with the Secretary-General of the United Nations on 14 December 2004. Nigeria was reviewed for the first time in the fourth year of the first cycle in 2014.  This review focused on Chapter III – Criminalisation and Law Enforcement – and despite the second review cycle of 2016-2021 with focus to Chapter II articles 5-14 and 51-59 of the UNCAC there exists many questions to be addressed.  

Indeed, the conference held on Saturday 24 April 2021 by UVOBPI-TEAMCO members was without doubt remarkable and was designed with training sections to empower the team in their advocacy CSO work. This inspiring team looks forward to the next training conference that intends to cover the following heading: FROM NATIONAL TO STATE LOCAL TO COMMUNITY LEVELS with focus to procedures and processes, with aim to project realisation and how these would benefit at a local/community level in Badagry, Lagos’ communities, and Nigeria at large. Follows-up from pleasantries shared among the members of UVOBPI-TEAMCO are determined indeed.  

Who are the UVOBPI-TEAMCO and why should you join us? 

Visit UVOBPI-TEAMCO’s website at: https://www.thevoiceofbadagry.org/ to find out more about us.

For more about UVOBPI-TEAMCO CSO work with UNCAC, visit us at: https://uncaccoalition.org/anti-corruption-platforms/africa/nigeria/united-voice-of-badagry-people-initiative-uvobpi/ 

Why not email us at: [email protected] or [email protected] 

Appeal 

Appeal to Integral lawyers, judges and honourable men and women, youths, elites and ordinary members of society:

Insecurity in Nigeria is epidemic and it is good people in society who stand up against corruption and the injustices that emerge with it but if you take your stance against these, these insecurities will not continue to worsen. Corruption is systemic and is one of the major routes to many insecurities today not only in Nigeria but elsewhere in the world and developing countries such as Nigeria and others are most affected. Join us as we need your help, we cannot do this alone and without your support. 

Thank you!