Presented by Arewa PUNCH, stakeholders in Gombe stress the vital role of accountability, integrity, and transparency in public and civil services during a recent two-day workshop organized by the Accountability Lab in collaboration with the MacArthur Foundation and Ford Foundation. The workshop aimed to empower integrity icons to share experiences and skills, fostering ethical practices and quality service delivery in the state.

Stakeholders at a two-day workshop in Gombe have harped on the need to ensure accountability, integrity, and transparency in public and civil services.

Arewa PUNCH reports that the engagement was organized by Accountability Lab in collaboration with the MacArthur Foundation and Ford Foundation to expand the cost of integrity icons in the state.

Speaking in an interview with Arewa PUNCH, the Gender Desk Officer at the Ministry of Justice, Gombe, Barrister Mwalin Abdu said the workshop was geared towards supporting integrity icons in the hub in implementing their learnings through training.

Abdu said, “Immediately after the award each year, Accountability Lab trains us (icons) to build our capabilities on issues around integrity and accountability. The workshop was organized to support us in sharing our experiences. In most cases, it’s about naming and shaming, but Accountability Lab does it to name and fame, so people now understand that it pays to do good.

“People must understand that when you are true to your work, it has a lot of benefits. What Accountability Lab is now doing is to enlarge it such that it shouldn’t be the four of us alone in the region it should be expanded by including civil servants.”

Speaking on her nomination process towards becoming an icon, she disclosed to Arewa PUNCH that her involvement in prosecuting gender-based violence cases without accepting inducements paved the way for her, adding that “Usually, it comes with challenges, some with inducements, others with harassment, but I always stand my ground to ensure justice is served. These were part of what some people saw that made them nominate me.”

Read the rest of this article by Chima Azubuike online at Arewa Punch.