The Committee of Advocates for Integrity Initiative (CADII) has called on civil society organisations (CSOs), government agencies, the media, and the public to uphold ethical standards in advocacy.
At a press conference yesterday in Abuja, CADII executive director comrade Charles Agubor stressed the importance of preserving the sanctity of civil society advocacy through transparency, responsibility, and accountability.
Agubor criticised the reckless allegations made by some organisations, particularly the Trustfield Empowerment Initiative (TEI), which he accused of eroding public trust and distracting government agencies from their critical mandates.
He specifically referenced TEI’s recent unfounded accusations against five federal agencies: the Federal Ministry of Transportation, the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation, the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), the Comptroller-General of the Federal Fire Service, and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
“These baseless claims of contract abuse, tax evasion, and financial mismanagement were made without evidence, forcing these agencies to waste valuable resources defending their integrity instead of focusing on their primary responsibilities,” he said.
He further emphasised that civil society should symbolise hope, not a tool for character assassination or political manipulation.
Also, Valentine Opaoluwa, a CADII member, echoed the call for ethical advocacy, stressing that CSOs must base their work on facts and objectivity.
“The credibility of civil society depends on our ability to act with integrity and accountability,” Opaoluwa noted, urging stakeholders to expose unethical practices within the sector.
To address these challenges, CADII outlined measures to curb reckless advocacy, including Legal actions against violators, public exposure of unethical organisations, and collaboration with regulatory bodies to ensure proper oversight.
Agubor called for unity among stakeholders to restore the integrity of civil society advocacy and allow public institutions to focus on their mandates without undue interference.
“Together, we can restore trust, uphold justice, and ensure civil society remains a force for positive change,” he added, reaffirming CADII’s commitment to promoting ethical advocacy and strengthening democratic principles.
