By Samuel Ogunsona
Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, should rapidly adopt stiffer measures in the fight against corruption – Human and Environmental Development Agenda, (HEDA Resource. Centre) has said.
The Human and Environmental Development Agenda, (HEDA Resource Centre), at the 36th Anti-Corruption Situation Room forum meeting held in Abuja, said Tinubu’s swift response to corruption cases in Nigeria will not only uplift the country from her current poor global rating but also contribute to the nation’s growth and development.
The national forum was organised in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) with the support of MacArthur Foundation.
According to the group, the latest score of anti-corruption in Nigeria is a meagre 25 percent which falls below global standards.
As part of the demand, participants said President Tinubu needs courage and political will to diminish favouritism, promote the rule of law, lead the moral compass against corruption and abuse of office in order to lift Nigeria to a higher level of integrity, dignity, transparency, and respect in the comity of nations.
The Chairman, HEDA Resource Centre Mr Olanrewaju Suraju, said the organisation will continue to lead the campaign against corruption to safe the country from dishonour and its citizens from misery and underdevelopment.
“In Nigeria, corruption remains a cankerworm that stunts socio-economic growth, creates poverty, fuels instability and leads to human misery.
“The efforts against corruption in Nigeria, including in the last one year of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are acknowledged, but a striking, radical break from the past is yet to be seen” He said.
In their goodwill messages delivered at the forum, the Director of MacArthur foundation, Dr. Kole Shettima charged stakeholders to sustain engagement in the fight against corruption for the good of all and provide room for vulnerable groups to lend their voices. The representatives of EFCC Chairman, the DG of National Orientation Agency, and the Inspector General of Police all promised improved collaboration with stakeholders in collective fight against public and private corruption.
In his Chairman’s remarks, Former House of Representatives member, Hon. Kayode Oladele advocate the use of federal character principles to address the imbalances and grievances in the country.
In his lead presentation, Professor Adele Jinadu warned that corruption destroys the fabric of a nation and stunts growth and prosperity.
In the communique issued at the end of the one-day historic event, the participants said democratic institutions in Nigeria are not strong enough to withstand the whirlwind of manipulations and undue influences from politically exposed persons.
The forum noted that corruption is not inseparable from electoral integrity, independent candidacy, voters’ empowerment to be able to recall wanting legislators while the enforcement of the right to information is given.
The forum observed that “the judiciary remains weak and overburdened, characterised by delays and sometimes frivolous injunctions and adjournments in corruption trial.”
It added that available cases of convictions by the anti-corruption institutions compared with petitions received and their investigations undermine effective output. For instance, in 2022, the EFCC received 73,948 petitions, 39,970 were investigated, 5,777 cases taken to court with only 2, 544 convictions.
It noted the exploitation of sections of the constitution especially in instances where issues of fundamental rights are raised by defendants which often delay procedures and offend timely dispensation of justice.
The communique also observed that manpower training and technology deficiencies in the judiciary and anti-corruption institutions which affect optimum performance.
It called for the need to rethink the approach to anti-corruption prosecution in Nigeria which should embrace mandate protection and also reengineer the attitude of Nigerians through fresh national reorientation framework;
“The Government should set up community groups to sensitize the people; set up a new independent agency to replace the National Orientation Agency, (NOA) which has become a mere mouthpiece for the government of the day and also resuscitate Public Complaints Commission. In Ghana there is the national civil orientation agency which is independent of the Government.”
The forum said Nigeria needs to ensure socio-economic rights are justiciable and backed with fresh laws that deploy state resources to enforce those laws, prohibit the powers of the incumbency and avoid the use of procurement to create war-chest for the Governments of the day;
“Anti-corruption agencies need to be more independent while power to appoint EFCC Chairman should be held by the Council of State with independent funding mechanism,” it added.
Attendants included the Director for Africa, MacArthur Foundation, Dr Kole Shettima, representatives of; United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC), the Chairman Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Chairman, Code of Conduct Bureau and the Director General, National Orientation Agency, (NOA)
Keynote speakers focused on Assessing the Effectiveness of Anti-Corruption measures under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led Federal Government, progress, challenges and Future Directions, by Femi Falana; Analysing the Impact of Political Interference on Anti-Corruption Efforts: Strategies for Reform by Hon Kayode Oladele and Professor Adele Jinadu; Trend on Unsuccessful Prosecution of Corruption Cases: A case for Strengthening Judicial Independence and Accountability by Mrs Kemi Okenyodo. The forum also saw the unveiling of the latest HEDA publication, ‘Revenue Administration and Governance Constraints: Transparency and Accountability Gaps in Nigeria’s Public Sector by Chairman.’