Corruption: Women Converge on Abeokuta for workshop on petition writing

Women from various Non-Government Organizations (NGO’s) on Wednesday converged on Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital to learn how to use petition writing in tackling corruption which is gradually becoming order of the day in Nigeria.

Penpushing reports that, the one training was organized by Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) which course contents include; understanding corruption, identifying corruption in the health and education sectors, understanding how corruption in health and education sectors affect women, reporting corruption, internal reporting systems petitioning anti-corruption agencies, what is corruption, and the abuse of entrusted power for private gain (Transparency International)

The Guest lecturer Dr. Adekemi Omotubora of the University of Lagos in her presentation identified bribery, trading in influence , embezzlement, unjust enrichment  among others as responsible for corruption, which she noted has become pandemic in Nigeria

Penpushing further reports that the lecturer on Women and corruption drew their attention on some exercise on how they could  identify corruption (in the health and education sectors), identify the specific corrupt practice(s) in each case, identify the perpetrators of the corrupt practice,identify the price demanded by the perpetrator,  identify the methods used to perpetrate corruption

‘The State Government recently announced that it will pay WAEC registration fees for all Senior Secondary School students in the State.  Parents and guardians are directed not to pay a kobo towards the examination. However, your son who will write WAEC this year just informed you that the principal of his school has asked all SSS 3 students to pay the sum of 2,500 towards ‘capturing’ and ‘practicals’ for the WAEC exam’.

‘Your pregnant sister has been referred to the General Hospital from a primary healthcare centre. She was bleeding and barely conscious, but an official at the General Hospital has just informed you that she needs N1,500 to buy credit to call the most qualified Doctor to attend to your sister. She also asked for N2000 for a porter to find and clean a bed and N10 ,000 for people who will procure blood because your sister will definitely need a blood transfusion’.

‘You have three young children attending the local government primary school. They just informed you that their teachers asked them to bring N20 each to school every day to pay for ‘class coaching’. To the best of your knowledge, basic primary education is free in your state. The children have also recently complained that their teachers often come late to class or not at all.

‘You are a final year student at the prestigious Gbege University. One of your lecturers has asked you to meet him at a hotel close to the University to discuss your bad performance in his course. He promises that if you ‘behave well’ your zero grade will be changed to a distinction. This is the third time you have failed the course and you will not be allowed to graduate unless you pass

‘You registered for anti-natal care at a government owned hospital. Your Doctor has missed your first two appointments. On your third visit, he advises you to also register at a private clinic where he works so that you can have ‘regular and adequate care’.

‘You have just given birth at a primary health care in your local government. On the third day, you were informed that you will be discharged but that you must ask your family to bring 2 cartons of malt drinks, 3 packs of Pure Bliss biscuits and the sum of N2,500 to show appreciation to the good nurses who delivered your baby. When you told them your family is struggling and does not have the means of meeting these demands. One of the nurses said  ‘This is how we celebrate with all our new mothers, don’t let yours be different and remember you’re still coming back to see us for your baby’s immunisation and post-natal care’.

‘Your husband has just been admitted at the Teaching Hospital for a critical and life-saving operation. Prior to his admission, you were given a bill of N350,000.00 which covers the cost of the treatment including medicine, injections, admission and feeding. On the day of the operation and while your husband is in surgery, two hospital officials approached you with a list of ‘new’ medicine that you were again requested to buy. You noticed that these ‘new’ medicine are those for which you have already been billed. You were also asked to drop money for ‘oxygen’ and the lift operator who will take your husband to his room after the surgery’.

Penpushing also reports that, the lecturer pointed out that, the development increased poverty ,stating that  women already disproportionately experience poverty and corruption will make women poorer, citing example that  less money for food and other essentials after paying bribes or other illegal payments in school or hospital

‘increased vulnerability – perpetrators will prey on women when they are at their most vulnerable e.g. Need for specialised services during pregnancy and childbirth, Reduced access (and/or use) public services – e.g. women interface with schools and hospitals as family caregivers and may not access the services if the cost of access is hiked by corrupt officials’

‘Although men and women mostly encounter the same forms of corruption, the negative effects of such abuses can have a greater impact on women particularly when combined with other manifestations of gender inequality and discrimination in society’.

Penpushing reports that, Omotubora emphasized that, reporting can improve transparency and accountability –‘e.g. raising awareness of the prevalence of corrupt practices in certain institutions or facilities. Increases the possibility of detection and punishment e.g. by naming and shaming of corrupt officials and institutions’

‘improve positive outcomes for women in health and education sector e.g. reporting cases of absenteeism can focus attention of monitoring or supervisory agency on the education or healthcare facility, thus promote punctuality and availability of staff’

‘Contribute to the development of gender sensitive anti-corruption policies e.g. making policies on gender-specific corrupt practices, increasing number of women in anti- corruption agencies, and monitoring authorities. Change mentality of society and educate the next generation- sends a message that corruption is not acceptable and society and the next generation of women should not tolerance it’.