The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center, (CISLAC), has said that for Nigeria to get it right in the efforts of tackling Insecurities and threats to peace, there must be an Institutionalisation of adequate data protection system backed by modern technology on information gathering to ensure information secrecy on Early Warning signals.
Speaking, Wednesday in Kano, while showcasing Policy Briefs on Early Warning and Early Response, organized by CISLAC and TI, the Executive Director CISLAC, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, said adequate resource allocation to response institutions and well-remunerated personnel to facilitate coordination and efficiency in response process, together with the creation of a Community Response Room is urgently needed in Nigeria.
Read Also: Senator Ningi Suspension: CISLAC expresses worries over attacks on freedom of expression
Similarly, he explained that, building a proactive leadership structure with adequate synergy among traditional rulers and community leaders to prioritise the needs and expectations of their communities in communal demands to prevent potential conflict should be entrenched.
Rafsanjani who was represented by the CISLAC Program Manager, Jimoh Abubakar, frowned at the ineffectiveness of Constituency Offices which is a Constitutional Mandate of the Elected Lawmakers, therefore, he advised that, strengthening Legislative Constituency offices across the country as a mechanism to enhance coordinated feedback and information gathering on Early Warning signals for timely and targeted response should quickly be ensured.
Read Also: Gombe: CISLAC Meets Key Ministries on Effects of Cigarette Smoking
He said, “today no one single Nigerian that will point on an active Constituency Office that is functional across the Nation, this is because even the Politicians don’t understand the functions or otherwise of the offices”.
“There should be an Increasing policy focus and intervention on conflict sensitivity to address the root causes of conflict and lingering social agitations across the country, mainstreaming gender-sensitivity in Early Warning and Early Response system with adequate consideration for youth and vulnerable groups integration in systematic planning and policy response to Early Warning.”
The Executive Director, also called for adequate resources allocation to response agencies, like the Police and others to enhance operational efficiency in Early Warning system and response process.
Read Also: Media, Catalyst for Exposing Sharp Corrupt Practices – CISLAC
Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, further called for an immediate reconsideration for social media regulation, giving cognisance and recognition to the citizens’ fundamental human rights is highly recommended to mitigate dreaded effects of unguarded misrepresentation and unverifiable public presentation of issues.
