Bukola Afeni
Stakeholders in the Development sector said strengthening Legislative Constituency offices across the country is a mechanism to enhancing coordinated feedback and information gathering on Early Warning signals for timely and targeted response.
They made the disclosure at the end of a two day capacity building for community observers, response networks and the media on early warning and early response.
The program was organized by CISLAC /Transparency International in Nigeria(TI-Nigeria) with support from Open Society Foundation Africa(OSF-AFRICA) in Kaduna.
The stakeholders noted that embracing well-informed information gathering, factual presentation and publication as well as high-level professionalism in Early Warning reporting is a timely response and bring about purposeful development.
“Encouraging transparency and accountability in the implementation of Defence and Security funds; and adequate funding for Kaduna State Peace Commission for efficient service delivery that positively impacts intelligence gathering on Early Warning signals and well-coordinated Response.
“Context presentation in story development and integrated gender-lens into conflict reporting to ensure all-inclusiveness and sensitivity in response process.
“Increasing policy focus and intervention on conflict sensitivity to address the root causes of conflict and lingering social agitations across the country.
“In-depth conflict analysis by relevant stakeholders in Early Warning and Early Response to support coordinated response to emerging signals”, the group added.
The Executive Director of CISLAC/TI-Nigeria, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), Mercy Corps, Emmanuel Shall and Global Peace Development, Chat Sunday Adamu, stated that the workshop is aimed at building the capacity of Community Observers, Response Network and the Media within the state for more collaboration, communication, coordination and collective support for early warning and conflict prediction mechanisms.
The organization observed that,inadequate human and financial resources for Kaduna State Peace Commission hampers its operational efficiency and activities towards extensive public sensitization, community engagement in Early Warning and Early Response.
“Lack of transparency and accountability coupled with unattended mismanagement identified in the implementation of security votes at state levels has paved way for embezzlement that manifests in escalated conflict and threats to lives and property in various parts of the country.
