Civil society activists have vowed to engage more effectively on issues bordering on the looting of public funds, the recovery and management of such assets.

They made the vow during a two-day training in Yenagoa on asset recovery and management organised by the Bayelsa State Non-Governmental Organisations Forum (BANGOF) in collaboration with the Africa Network for Environmental and Economic Justice (ANEEJ).

In a seven-point communiqué issued after the workshop, the civil society groups also vowed to create awareness on “the ills of looting of public funds and the re-looting of recovered funds and assets” to the society.

Representatives of about 45 NGOs drawn from the six states of the South-South geopolitical zone comprising Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, and Edo States participated in the asset recovery and management training.

The communiqué, which was signed by 14 NGOs, stressed the need for member organisations to also undertake in-depth research on assets recovery and management issues and escalate such research findings.

They were also encouraged to engage in advocacy for a transparent and accountable report on recovered assets, especially by relevant anti-graft agencies of government.

The civil society actors called on such anti-graft agencies such as the EFCC, ICPC, National Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Police, DSS, and the Nigeria Customs Service as well as the Ministry of Justice and the Department of State Services (DSS) to partner with CSOs “for identification, training, recovery and effective utilisation of recovered looted funds and assets.”

They also emphasised the need for member organisations to monitor the use of recovered assets in the interest of vulnerable households and the very poor. (Independent)