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Tag: fight against corruption

  • Obaseki urges behavourial change in anti-corruption fight

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has called on Nigerians to have a change of attitude by demanding probity from their leaders if the country is ever going to record meaningful progress in the fight against corruption.

    Obaseki made the submission at the one-day Round table on Behavioural Insights and Policy Making in Nigeria towards the Fight Against Corruption, organised by the African Network for Environmental and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), in conjunction with the UKAID and ActionAid Nigeria, in Abuja.

    The governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Taiwo Akerele, said, “The greatest threat to the elimination of corruption is the weak demand for accountability by the citizens. If the demand is weak, the supply will even be weaker.”

    He called for a change in mechanisms for the elimination of corruption and corrupt practices in Sub-Saharan Africa and noted that his administration has continued to make appreciable progress in the fight against corruption, by strengthening the state’s public procurement institutions.

    Read Also: Obaseki finalises investment with Chinese firms

    He added that the state government has embraced open data and open governance since 2013, and has domesticated the Fiscal Responsibility and the Public Finance Management laws.

    Obaseki said the state publishes contracts worth N10m and above through various media channels and has developed a performance evaluation metrics to ensure value for money in all contracts. He added that Edo State audited financial statement is published within the first quarter after the end of every financial year.

    Obaseki told participants that having the enabling laws and institutions are good and encouraging, but stressed that their objectives would only be realised if citizens work towards changing their behaviour towards corrupt people and embracing only those who are honest and hardworking.

    Participants at the event include civil society groups, members of the academia, development partners, representatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), office of the Vice President, Rule of Law Advisor, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), among others.

     

  • Anglican church charges Buhari on fight against corruption

    Anglican church charges Buhari on fight against corruption

    The Anglican Church of Nigeria has charged the federal government to re-examine some of institutions and structures put in place to fight corruption with a view to strengthening the institutions and ensuring that corruption is reduced in the country. The church expressed dismay that despite attempts by some past and present leaders to uproot corruption, the fight against corruption has not been successful in the land.

    Speaking at the second session of the third synod of the Anglican Diocese of Omu-Aran , Kwara State , the Diocesan Bishop of the Anglican Church, Rt. Reverend Philip Adeyemo, said it was saddening to state that rather than abating, corruption has continued to spread. In his paper with the theme: “A curse is not without cause”,  Adeyemo blamed the situation on greed, selfishness, wickedness and partiality among the leaders .

    “It means that we have not gotten the best way to fight and win corruption in this country. We need to examine some of the institutions and structures put in place at federal, states and local government levels which make corruption intractable in the country. For example, Nigeria is a country where fund is being disbursed to the federal, states and local governments every month without proper system of monitoring the spending,” the clergyman said.

    According to him, Nigeria cannot witness growth and stability unless there is a fearless  leader with integrity that is determined to fight corruption without compromise. “Therefore, to have a Nigeria where no man is oppressed and where peace and justice reign, we need leaders of integrity and not treasury looters,” he stated.

    Reverend Adeyemo also suggested that governance at all levels should be made less attractive financially if the leaders were truly determined to fight and win corruption in the country. He called on President Buhari to do everything within his power to rid the country of corruption and corrupt leaders and public officials before leaving office.

     

  • Buhari to sign executive order on transparency in govt – Malami

    Buhari to sign executive order on transparency in govt – Malami

    Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN on Monday disclosed that, as part of his efforts to entrench his fight against corruption, President Muhammadu Buhari will soon sign an executive order on transparency and efficiency in government.

    Speaking at the National open government partnership retreat in Kaduna State, the Minister said “Corruption remains one of the biggest impediments to National development. It is illegal and illegitimate. It concerns actions that are often clandestine and practices that those who perpetrate it always try to conceal.”

    He continued that, “Numerous scholars insist that many of the political, social and especially economic problems we face in Nigeria is still traceable to the problem of corruption.”

    Malami also commended the Kaduna State Government, Governor Nasir El-Rufai, saying “We settled for hosting this event in Kaduna for many reasons including the fact that Governor Nasir El-Rufai has made significant efforts in engaging with the citizens and In the publication of Budget information as well as his desire to fast track the development of open government partnership principles in Kaduna State. It is my hope that Kaduna State can become a pilot state for the purpose of implementing OGP principles at the sub National level.”

    “The open government partnership is a multi-stakeholders initiative focused on improving transparency accountability citizen participation and responsiveness to citizens  through technology and innovation. OGP was formally launched in 2011 when the 8 founding governments Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, the Philippines, South Africa, the United Kingdom among others, saying Nigeria formally joined in in July 2016. 

    “Let me reiterate that the FGN will continue to pursue reform program on transparency and accountability through targeted measures based on the commitments that we have made to promote fiscal transparency open procurement open contracting access to information asset disclosure citizen engagement and empowerment.”

    However he said “dwindling oil revenue government is desirous to continue to provide an enabling environment to attract foreign investors in order to diversify the economy. President Buhari has made it clear that Nigeria is open for business and has assured the world that illicit finance will have no hiding place in our country. 

    “In the coming weeks, the president will sign an executive order on promoting transparency and efficiency for the creation of an enabling business environment in Nigeria that will mandate all ministries, agencies and department to adopt openness in contracting procedures and publishing of contracts.”

    In his own remarks, Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, represented by his Deputy Barnabas Bala Bantex said, “This government believes that the governance standards embodied in the Open Government Partnership are very helpful in advancing the implementation of transparent and result-oriented government.

    “In Kaduna State, we are cooperating with BudgIT on budget transparency, and everyone already knows that we insist on open competitive bidding for our contracts. Hardly a week passes without us publishing tenders in the newspapers. We have also established a platform for citizen engagement, with the Eyes and Ears project that confers on citizens the capacity to engage in real-time monitoring of our projects.”

    According to him, “these efforts towards open government are being acknowledged by our development partners.”

  • Anti-graft battle built on fairness, justice – Buhari

    Anti-graft battle built on fairness, justice – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday assured that patriotic Nigerians have nothing to fear in the fight against corruption as his administration will ensure justice and fairness to all.

    He spoke in Daura after attending Eid prayers to celebrate Eid-El-Kabir.

    But he stressed that those who abuse public trust will face justice in addition to returning their stolen assets to the nation’s coffers.

    He thanked Nigerians for supporting the Federal Government policies, programmes and actions aimed at improving security, revamping the economy and combating the fight against corruption.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said: ‘‘We should thank God this year, the reports I’m getting, which is very pleasing, is that we will have a bumper harvest this year.

    ‘‘I want Nigerians to realise that what this government inherited after 16 years of the PDP government was no savings, no infrastructure, no power, no rail, no road and no security.

    ‘‘Nigerians can see what we have done on Boko Haram and what we are doing to resolve the problem in the Niger Delta.

    ‘‘Before the elections, we identified three major problems confronting our country. The first is security; we need to sufficiently secure our country to manage it well.

    ‘‘The second is economy, especially job for the youths and fighting corruption which is continuous.

    ‘‘For the youths, graduates and non-graduates who are interested in agriculture, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the CBN are doing something to provide employment for them,’’ the President said.

    Buhari, who is observing this year’s Eid holiday in his native home Daura, Katsina State, will return to Abuja after the two-day public holidays.

  • Photo: NLC supports Buhari’s fight against corruption

    Photo: NLC supports Buhari’s fight against corruption

    NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS RALLY IN SUPPORT OF PRESIDENT MUHAMADU BUHARI'S FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION IN GOVERNMENT AT GOVERMENT HOUSE IN BAUCHI ON THURSDAY
    NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS RALLY IN SUPPORT OF PRESIDENT MUHAMADU BUHARI’S FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION IN GOVERNMENT AT GOVERMENT HOUSE IN BAUCHI ON THURSDAY
  • Kaduna committed to fight against corruption – El-Rufa’i

    Kaduna committed to fight against corruption – El-Rufa’i

    Governor Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Thursday said his administration would deliver good governance to the people through a sustained fight against corruption in the state.

    El- Rufa’i made the remarks during a rally tagged, “The National Day of Action against Corruption and for Good Governance’’, organised by the joint labour unions in the state.

    According to him, the APC-led government is the government of the masses and is committed to safeguarding the rights of all.

    “As a public officer and servant to the people, it is my responsibility to ensure that the right thing is done always.’’

    The governor assured the state’s civil servants that their salaries would be paid before the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, saying “we won’t wait for Federal Government’s monthly allocation.’’

    El-Rufai assured the labour unions in the state that he would forward their demands to President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, Sept. 11.

    In a joint statement, the unions called on the President to ensure that all funds identified to have been stolen from the common treasury were traced and recovered to the last kobo.

    The statement was signed by the Chairman, Kaduna Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Malam Adamu Ango and his counterpart at the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Malam Shehu Mohammad.

    The statement urged the federal government to ensure that the recovered funds were kept “in a special account and are appropriated for job creation, funding educational infrastructure and upgrading the health-care infrastructure’’.

    “We also support and call for the establishment of special anti-corruption courts to try corruption cases in the country,’’ the union leaders stated.

    It recommended that all public officers, elected or appointed, should publicly declare their assets and liabilities upon assumption of office.

    The statement said there was an urgent need to review and strengthen the nation’s anti-corruption laws to eliminate loopholes and allow for proper prosecution of offenders.

    “Anti-graft agencies should be well funded and should as a matter of urgency, extend their searchlight to the other two tiers of government,’’ they stated.

    The labour leaders commended President Buhari on his various actions against the menace of corruption in the country since his assumption of office.

  • Change and fight against corruption

    SIR: There is still only one word to describe the ultimate mood of this nation today: change. Whatever, the type of change we desire, I strongly believe that the powerful catalyst to ensure that this change occur is you and I.

    The new APC administration is the greatest opportunity that we have in this country to move this nation to where we want it to be. The desire of the APC is at idem with the genuine desire of the people for Change. This is why the APC won the election.

    Without doubt, the President and his party, the APC together with the law – makers of which the APC has the majority at the National Assembly will bear the greatest burden to give effect to the change.  They have their duty well cut out. They must all exhibit the will to fight corruption in deed. The president must place the right people in the various anti-corruption agencies and monitor such relentlessly. The law- makers on their own part must make the appropriate laws to give efficacy to the investigations and processes by these agencies. I foresee the enactment of new laws as the bed-rock to effect the changes. I foresee and support the creation of special anti-corruption courts with special rules and Practice Directions to tackle corruption cases while the normal courts will continue to exercise its jurisdiction also.

    There must be a purposeful strategy to punish for acts of corruption no matter how small the act or amount of money involved. It is the same law that says we should not steal that makes stealing in billions or millions or thousands or hundreds a breach.

    The prosecuting agencies should be bold to present to the courts cases of corrupt dealings no matter how small the amount or advantage taken may be. Our adjudicating courts must be bold enough to award the maximum sentences for crimes associated with official corruption. This must be so if the whole country is to be seen by others as acting as one in dealing with this scourge.

    Clearly and by far the one single action that will foretell the readiness of our law makers to join and effect the necessary changes in our society will be their readiness to do the hitherto impossible things like disclosing their pay and accepting a reduction of such if found to be unsustainable in the context of our present socio-economic condition.

    Generally, we must be able to assist the law enforcement officers with concrete information to enable them do their job. It is certainly the next neighbour who will have information to give to the law enforcement agents concerning the house bought by the public officer in London or elsewhere and even the fronts he or she is using. We must report all cases of corruption to the responsible agencies. The sphere has to be broadened for everyone to participate in this process for change. The readiness to accept the consequences of our actions must be there as well as the opportunity to come clean it. We want to see people immediately discuss and return what have been unlawfully taken away from us in exchange for some form of pardon thereafter the full wrath of the law should take effect.

    As we mobilize ourselves to be involved, certainly, those with something to be afraid of will fight back. We expect to hear such ranting alleging victimization, political persecution and even ethnic jingoisms. We must as determined people resolve to ignore such ranting or propaganda as long as we are getting results no matter whose ox is gored.

    We should expect those who are benefitting from any sort of corrupt activities to scorn our approaches in other to weaken the new government if possible.

    Our chance to move our country forward consists in the above rather than in tolerating corruption in any form. There are countries that maintain a death penalty for this crime, like China, just to emphasize how important others treat this issue.

     

    • Barr. Orchardson Umoh

    Calabar, Cross River State