Jos – The Federal Government has described Plateau State’s ongoing efforts to establish a state-specific anti-corruption framework as a significant step towards strengthening accountability in governance.
The Head of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) Secretariat, Victoria Ojogbane, made the assessment on Wednesday in Jos while representing the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, at a capacity-building programme for the Plateau State Integrity and Accountability Strategy (PLASIAS).
The three-day programme, which runs from August 26 to 28, is aimed at equipping stakeholders with the tools required to monitor and assess the implementation of PLASIAS 2025–2029.
Ojogbane said Plateau had moved beyond drafting an anti-corruption policy by developing an action plan and preparing the necessary structures for its implementation and validation.
She described the development as evidence that subnational governments could take ownership of anti-corruption reforms and translate them into practical governance measures.
“What Plateau has achieved is a structural reform,” she said.
According to her, the National Anti-Corruption Strategy provides the broad framework for the fight against corruption, but its impact would depend largely on what states do to implement the principles within their own systems.
Ojogbane said effective implementation of PLASIAS could contribute to better management of public resources and improved delivery of essential services.
She noted that corruption often deprives citizens of basic services, saying, “Every act of corruption diverts resources from the people who need them most.”
The programme is being organised by the Office of the State Head of Service with support from the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme Phase II (RoLAC II), implemented by International IDEA and funded by the European Union.
The Lead Consultant on Transparency and Accountability for RoLAC II, Prof. Ada Chidi-Igbokwe, said the training would help participating institutions acquire practical mechanisms for implementing the strategy.
The State Project Coordinator of RoLAC in Plateau, Mantim Dala, said weaknesses in accountability had consequences for public services, particularly in health, education, housing and infrastructure.
Dala said PLASIAS should be viewed as a preventive mechanism rather than a tool for targeting public officials.
“The anti-corruption strategy is not actually meant to witch-hunt anyone. It aims to prevent such from happening,” he said.
However, a participant, Kaneng Rwang-Pam commended the support RoLAC is giving to ensure good governance.
She said the integrity and accountability framework should be made accessible to the average Plateau citizen, so that they could understand it, take ownership and implement it at all levels.
The post RoLAC supports Plateau to advance anti-corruption strategy appeared first on Vanguard News.