CISLAC Sensitises Journalists On Defence, Security Reporting

​Researched & Edited by Araba, Olawale Enifenilanfe

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LAGOS  – The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has at a one-day media workshop sensitized Journalists drawn from various media platforms to do everything within the law and ethics of their profession to ensure that the protection of lives and properties remain a priority for the government. 

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Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), the Executive Director, CISLAC, while delivering the welcome address at the event that centered on defense anti-corruption reportage, civic space, and oversight, called on journalists to always ensure that their reportages align with provisions that are inherent in the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended 

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He emphasized that journalists must not sit and watch a corrupt few Nigerians that embezzle monies meant for the welfare of security personnel, and procurement of arms and ammunition while the challenges of insecurity continue to threaten our very existence. 

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He said: “This media workshop is designed to enhance our knowledge on probable areas within the defense and security sector budgetary process and expenditures, for effective investigative journalism. 

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“It will improve the capacity of participants to better understand areas of possible corruption risk and to flag same for evidence-based civilian oversight in other to minimize corrupt practices and to improve our defense and security architecture. 

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Ostensibly shedding light on the reason why Journalists must report professionally while covering and reporting events and issues that emanate from the defense and security sub-sector of the economy, he explained that “Many people known and unknown to us have been killed, manned, kidnapped, robbed of their loved ones, properties and sources of livelihood. 

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“Terrorist attacks and kidnappings for outrageous ransom have become a norm in Nigeria. The question is: who will be the next victim?” 

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He added that Journalists should resort to questioning the actions and in-actions of the government and demand accountability for budgetary allocations meant for defense and security. 

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The CISLAC boss advised that journalists must not fail to acknowledge the disciplinary actions taken by the leadership of the defense and security sector against erring officers who would rather water down the ethics and values of institutions within the sub-sector. 

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He explained, “Nevertheless, there is still so much more to be done structurally such as wrong and prolonged deployment of personnel in the battlefield, lack of transparency and accountability in fund management, procurement and project implementation, personnel recruitment process, personnel welfare, substandard kits, and equipment, among others”. 

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Rafsanjani assured us that CISLAC and its partners will continue to push for greater accountability and integrity in the defense and security sector because it will require a multi-stakeholder engagement in line with the principles of democratic and participatory governance, to achieve the level of reform we desire. 

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He, however, assured: “We will not relent in advocating for an accountable defense and security expenditure, classification and declassification of information for public consumption, increased integrity for personnel, and an uninterrupted civilian oversight of the sector in line with international best practices”.