Anti-Corruption
Diana Omueza
Abuja, May 22, 2018 (NAN) Transparency International (TI), the global coalition against corruption, on Tuesday called on relevant agencies of government to fast-track the operations of national anti-corruption strategy.
Mr Auwal Musa-Rafsanjani, Executive Director, Centre for Civil Society Legislative Advocacy (CISLAC), made the call at a workshop organised by TI on Tuesday in Abuja.
The workshop with “Preventing the Facilitation of Corruption in Public and Private Sector’’ as theme, was aimed at developing international framework for sustainable development.
Musa-Rafsanjani said that in view of the negative effects of corruption in Nigeria, it was essential for agencies of government to fast-track processes, strategic for transparency and accountability.
He said that the Federal Government should involve the media in the utilization of recovered assets in key sectors of the economy for the benefit of citizens.
He said that although the Chief Justice of the Federation had set up special courts to handle the prosecution of corruption cases, it was imperative to re-strategise.
“The Judicial Service Commission needs to appoint judges with integrity into the special courts for efficient and effective outcomes.
“Nigerians want to see the positive effects of the established special courts in the areas of prosecution of high profile and politically-exposed persons to serve as deterrent to others,” Musa-Rafsanjani.
He noted that in spite of emphasis on public sector which accounted for about 70 per cent of corruption cases in Nigeria, enthroning integrity and minimizing corruption in public and private sectors remained a priority.
The director added that corruption in both sectors kept featuring prominently in the form of programmes and policies of successive government administrations.
According to him, a report on “Impact of Corruption on Nigerian Economy’’ showed that corruption in Nigeria could cost up to 3,700 of Gross Domestic Products (GDP) by 2030 if it was not dealt with immediately.
Musa-Rafsanjani added that the cost was equated to about 1,000 dollars per person in 2014 and nearly 2,000 dollars per person by 2030.
He said that in February, 2018, TI released Corruption Perception Index (CPI) and Nigeria slipped further down in the global rankings, indicating that appreciable and lasting progress had not been made in the fight against corruption.
“Nigeria ranks 148 out of 180 countries, with a 27-per cent score out of 10,000. In 2016, Nigeria ranked 136, slipping further down by 12 points.
“Corruption persists in the country at all levels, costing taxpayers 2,500 of annual GDP. In spite of accelerated convictions between 2016 and 2017, none has made sufficient impact on asset recovery or positively defined public opinions.”
Musa-Rafsanjani called on National Assembly members to make the Budget open to the public as well as to comply with the laws passed by the institution.
He said that Acts such as Freedom of Information Act 2011, Public Procurement Act 2007 and others should be made available to all.
He appealed to the assembly to ensure quick passage of subsequent Budgets and not to allow personal or party interest override national interest.
Chairperson of TI, Mrs Delia Ferreira-Rubio, said that corruption could happen in any country regardless of its growth in economy and that over 60 million people lived in the context of corruption.
She said that citizens were exposed to corruption every day because the vice was in all spheres of the society.
“People face corruption when they go to school or to the hospital. Even in the bank, people face bank corruption.”
Ferreira-Rubio said Argentines had faced one of the greatest cases of bank corruption in the last four years, adding that from Argentina to Brazil and even Angola, there had been corruption in oil companies.
She said that in all the countries affected by corruption, the victims were usually average citizens and that corruption was a human right issue that affected human conditions and also Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
According to Ferreira-Rubio, it is impossible to achieve SDGs without fighting corruption, and corruption affects not only SDG16 but all SDGs.
She added that corruption must be fought for transparency and accountability and not as an abstract thing or as an elite issue in order to build strong institutions, better liberty and rights.
Ferreira-Rubio said stolen asset from Nigeria to other countries that were seen as morally transparent must stop and Nigerians must have zero tolerance for corruption and not to vote those involved in corruption issues into power.
According to her, corruption means less education, less development and less opportunity for each citizen and that is why everyone must fight corruption on both sides of governance. (NAN)
DOM /OPI/OPI
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