Former National Broadcasting Commission Director-General Dr. Danladi Bako has urged journalists to be vigilant, keep an eye on funding allocations, and hold state and local governments responsible.In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Abuja, Bako made the request. According to Bako, during the course of Nigeria's 24 years of democracy, the 8th and 9th Assemblies made modest modifications to the nation's constitution and improved the country's electoral rules.
He went on to say that some states had previously received peanuts, but that most of them now receive more money as a result of the elimination of gasoline subsidies.
"The challenge for the governors is to use the funds well, even though prices and the cost of living have increased so much."The blame for the dearth of development and infrastructure should fall on state governors. The most recent governors of Rivers and Kaduna performed well, as did Malam Sule Lamido during his administration.
Additionally, Sanwo-Olu is performing admirably, and Lagos natives Babajide Fashola and Ambode also performed well. However, a few governors are not doing well at all.It is our responsibility as journalists to monitor the financial resources allotted to state and local governments and their use.
"I want to urge journalists to be aware of the purposes for which the governments are allocating the funds.
"Unfortunately, a ruling was made that states the EFCC can only look into federal government funds and cannot look into how state governments use their money," Bako stated.
The former head of NBC once again stated that someone had to monitor how and where state and local governments spend their money.
The fact that certain corruption instances have persisted since 2007 alarmed Bako.
"Unfortunately, 80 percent of those cases are still outstanding because Nigerian journalists are not following up.
The fact that no one is investigating those cases more than 16 years later shows that unless such crimes are punished, they will go unpunished.
Eighty percent of the issues we are facing are the result of money being stolen, and people are not speaking up about it.
People begin talking about a story as soon as it appears on the front pages of newspapers or bulletins, but after three weeks, nobody remembers and no one follows up.
"All media organizations need to have an investigation desk where you follow up on stories," he continued.