The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD Nigeria has called on state and non-state actors to Exhibit a great deal of willpower to steer the country away from corruption.
The call is coming as the globe marks 2022 International anti-corruption day.
In a release signed by the Executive Director of the organization Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, describes Corruption Trend in Nigeria as Worrisome while calling on critical stakeholders to save the country from collapsing.
The release reads thus: “Nigeria, upon 1999 return to democracy, established two major anti-corruption agencies – first, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission, ICPC (2000), and later the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC (2003). But it is alarming that Nigeria does not rank among countries with low incidences of corruption yet. This is sad, to say the least.
Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development, FENRAD a pro-democracy and environmental rights advocacy group today surveys the anti-corruption trajectory of Nigeria since 1999 focusing more on the last seven years. In January 2022, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC working with Transparency International, TI released a worrying country report on Nigeria wherein the nation placed 154th out of 180 countries, having scored a paltry 24 out of a total of 100. Based on this corruption perception index (CPI), the journey is still long for Nigeria, but a thing or two can be done and leveraged to change the story, FENRAD believes.
Today’s International Anti-Corruption Day slogan says “Uniting the World Against Corruption,” a call on nations of the world to unite and fight corruption through collaborative efforts and efficiency. Nigeria too is not left out on this call. At the regional level, Nigeria is a signatory to AU’s Convention on Fighting and Combating Corruption. Even in 2018, President Buhari was appointed AU’s Anti-Corruption Champion while recently Umar Yakubu, a Nigerian, was appointed to represent Africa at the UN Convention against Corruption, UNCAC level, yet the war against corruption is far from won.
One would have thought that at the domestic level, Nigeria would have closed the gap, and edged closer to countries perceived “clean” in the Transparency International corruption perception index, CPI. Sadly the nation is still ranked 154th, better only than 25 or 26 out of 180 countries. One of the three-pronged areas of President Buhari’s campaign in 2014/15 was the “campaign against corruption.” Sadly, FENRAD regrets that under the same administration, issues like oil theft, subsidy scam, vote buying, budget padding, trading in influence, and sundry corrupt practices bedevil Nigeria and Nigerians. Many are still asking what use the so-called “Abacha loot” has been put to. Both public sector and private sector corruption increased on an unheard-of scale in the last seven years, FENRAD says. Animals like: rodents, reptiles, and primates were reported to have swallowed monies conveniently stashed in official vaults. Perceived corrupt officials being questioned by lawmakers slump, are rushed to hospitals, and cases close or are discontinued, and what is more, the president pardoned convicted former governors, even extending such clemency to terrorists!
From ”we are fighting corruption,” Nigerians were told that “corruption is fighting back,” and later that change begins with them. The lack of a clear and articulate anti-corruption policy draws the nation back in its march toward ending corruption.
At the sub-national level, nothing is different. Recently, President Buhari and his minister of finance (for state) accused governors of causing poverty among local dwellers, 70% of who fell within the “63% multidimensionally poor Nigerians!” The governors had countered the president, saying he was responsible for endemic poverty among the locals for failing to protect poor farmers, whose farms have been taken over by bandits.
The truth, FENRAD maintains, is that both governments are guilty of what they accused each other of. The sufferers are the poor masses. Many states are not signatories to Open Government Partnership Initiative, OGP. Financial disclosures are not made regarding public spending, attention is often focused on the center while governors build mansions abroad and choose to proceed on sabbatical to the National Assembly – the senate for the most part.”
He further charges the government to empower the weak justice system, adding that laws have to be created to strengthen weak institutions.
He noted that appointment to sensitive positions should be based on merit, not on tribe, religion, or region which characterized appointments in the last seven years stressing that intending and aspiring politicians must commit to financial discipline and disclosure, detailing their assets.
In his words: “FENRAD calls for local government autonomy and for a review of the sharing formula in revenue where the federal government, being a single entity takes over 52%, the 36 states a little over 26%, and the local councils with 774 co-equal governments a little over 20%.
There must be a national value and program that spearheads the crusade of anti-corruption. Else all may be in vain. May all, FENRAD says, not be in vain, and may Nigeria join the rest of the world to fend off corruption.”
For inquiries, see contacts below.
Tel;/WhatsApp 08033383708,07062949232,
Email; fenradnigeria@yahoo.com
Info.fenradnigeria@gmail.com
Info@fenrad.org.ng.
Website; www.fenrad.org.ng
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn @FENRADNIGERIA.
Foundation For Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development(FENRAD)
Plot 101 Jubilee Road, By mosque Street, 2nd Floor, Front, Aba, Abia State.
SOUTHEAST REGIONAL OFFICE;
Plot 11/13 Ezillo Avenue, Independence Layout, Enugu, Enugu State;
Tel;08033383708,07062949232,08056480504,
Email;fenradnigeria@yahoo.com,info.fenradnigeria@gmail.com. www.fenrad.org.ng
Facebook@fenradnigeria Twitter@fenradnigeria Skype;@fenradnigeria.
