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- #SayNoCampaign recently held a policy dialogue on the state of the nation

- The sole aim of the dialogue was to address issues relating to health, anti-corruption and security

- The event held at Treasure Suites, Abuja on June 5, 2018

Civil societies have long fought the issue of corruption and bad governance drowning the nation. On June 5, Say No Campaign in collaboration with MacArthur Foundation held a policy dialogue to discuss the state of the nation, Nigeria.

The main focus of the gathering was to address the issues of health, anti-corruption, security and the forth-coming 2019 elections.

The convener of the Say No Campaign, Ezenwa Nwagu, welcomed the guests as they crowded Taraba Hall of Treasures Suites and Conferences in the nation's capital around 10am on Tuesday, June 5. To begin, the country director of the MacArthur Foundation, Kole Shettima, delivered a goodwill message and buttressed the need for improved governance in the country.

Invited panelists also took the stage to share thought-provoking comments regarding the major issues hampering the progress of Nigeria including current challenges faced in the areas of security, health and the un-ending war against corruption.

Say No Campaign organization holds policy dialogue on the state of the nation

Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Hassan Idayat, kicked off the discussion with a point on the ripple effect of a struggling economy which she described has resulted in an epidermic of unemployment on one end and a lack of what can be considered gainful employment, on the other end of the spectrum.

Idayat stated the mother-problem is what births all other issues of insecurity in the country. Her rhetoric identified the role religion, tradition and economy play in fueling the problem of insecurity.

Speaking on the need of impeccable leadership at the hem of affairs of the country, executive director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, hammered on the importance of transparency and accountability on every level of governance across the country.

Say No Campaign organization holds policy dialogue on the state of the nation

On the issue of vote buying, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)'s representative, Dorothy Inyang, pointed out the fight is for the citizens who she believes need to be sensitized on the value of their right and power to vote. She advised that each individual should not sell out their 'voice' and only stand by the candidate they believe can deliver campaign promises.

Dissecting the chaos currently facing the health sector, Dr. Henry Ewunonu of the Nigerian Medical Association blamed the malady on the inept leadership in the industry. He explained that the generational lack of constitutional laws that guide and direct the affairs of health workers is to be blamed for the issues being debated.

He opined that if such laws are put in place and enforced, workers will do better than question the hierarchy set in the hospitals.

Ewunonu also argued that the greatest challenge in the country at the moment is health and not insecurity or corruption, as one cannot do anything if their health is threatened or deteriorating.