The Women Initiative for Transparency and Social Justice, has unveiled plans, this month, for the commencement of actions on its demand for accountability from public office holders and government.

Co-ordinator of the group, Mrs Jennifer Spiff, who made this known in a chat with The Tide during a three-day training/workshop organised by American Solidarity Centre on Media Advocacy in Port Harcourt, last week, stated that the training has provided the group with the knowledge needed to broaden its information gathering techniques, especially in the area of monitoring and tracking budget allocations on education and health.

“The training is an eye-opener to what we can do with the new media on social accountability”, she said, adding that, “we can now enlighten the citizens of Rivers State and Nigeria on their right to demand accountability and transparency from public office holders and government”.

Spiff noted that the training, which attracted social groups from Delta and Rivers states, has given the coalition an opportunity to network with international bodies that are ready to share in their struggle to achieve accountability and track budgetary allocations.

The co-ordinator called on public office holders and government to stand up to their responsibilities as a group when the group comes calling on them for their stewardship.

She commended the American Solidarity Centre for a job well done, adding that society will be a better place when what the groups have learnt are implemented.

In a related development, the National Secretary, PENGASON, Mr Joseph Oshokpekhai, lauded the centre for the training, stating that “the workshop is not only timely but what we need to organise social groups to fight for the interest of the common man.

“We also have learnt what will help us move in driving policies that will help in making government and public office holders accountable”.