Buhari Lacks Framework to Fight Corruption- CSO Group

Buhari Lacks Framework to Fight Corruption-  CSO Group

A group of Civil Society Organization worries over unwary   development invading the nation’s socio-economic and political space with propensity to back-pedal progress in achieving a stable, secured and prosperous country.

Speaking at Press briefing organized by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)  and jointly signed by other Civil Society Organizations, The Executive Director of CISLAC,  Auwal Ibrahim Rafsanjani heighted the point as violation of electoral guidelines and internal party democracy, corruption and non – appointment of the national Procurement Council, unresolved cases of high profile corruption allegations, inadequate security presence in community and politically motivated killings; poor implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals; slow implementation of reform in the extractive sector; delays in Legislative Action by National Assembly and commendable progress by judicial institution.

Rafsanjani stressed that corruption remains pervasive in Nigeria, putting in place holistic approach towards tackling the menace despite emphasis placed in the public sector (which constitutes an estimated 70% of corruption cases in Nigeria , enthroning integrity and minimizing corruption in both public and private sector continues to remain a priority, featuring prominently in the form of programmes and policies of successive government administration.

Although the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) disclosed recently that 2.9 billion USD have been recovered between May 2015 and October 20, 2017 , but there is little information and absence of clear guidelines on how these recovered assets are utilized to maximally benefit the common citizens whose interest government had promised to protect. says, CISLAC boss.

Recalled that,the recent suspension of Nigeria from the elite EGMONT group of financial intelligence agencies is ample evidence of chaotic institutional structure in the anti-corruption domain, bedeviled by inexplicable inter-agency rivalry and lack of coordination of anti-corruption effort.

Mr Auwal , also bothered that personnel of the Armed Forces, the Police and other security intelligence agencies wallow in poor working conditions and inadequate equipment combined with poorly paid salary without adequate insurance. This create low morale for personnel to fully engaged in their duties. In addition to this ,despite the low security presence to effectively secure citizens’ lives and property at national and state levels, a large number of security personnel and equipment are endlessly attached to politicians, government officials and worth individuals which continued to pave for recurring political and other socially motivated conflicts as exemplified by farmers and pastoralists; violence across Benue, Taraba, Adamawa and Kaduna States; cattle rustling in Zamfara State; militancy in the Niger Delta and kidnapping all across Nigeria.

In another view, the Director of Partner for Electoral Reforms (PER)  Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu noted that candidate selection is a vital activity to the existence of any political party, disturbed by the emerging undemocratic processes employed by political party member in the  endorsement of political candidates outside laid down party constitution.

“We are worried by the persistent violation of the Electoral Act with the improper use of electoral time table as announced by Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) by political parties who continue to engage in premature campaign activities” . He said

Barrister Adeshina Oke, Board Member of CISLAC, also commends efforts made by judiciary to clean up its taking disciplinary action by erring judges, adding that the judges should face the full weight of the law like other citizen while appreciating the progress in the recent trial of high profile corruption cases. We  call for more proactive and vibrant judicial system for judicious prosecution of politically exposed and proper interpretation of anti-graft legislations.

Signed:

Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)

Partners on Electoral Reform (PER)

Action State of the Union (SOTU)

Say No Campaign

Accountability  Mechanism for Maternal New-born and Child Health in Nigeria (AMHiN)

Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civil Education (CHRICED)

Zero-Corruption Coalition (ZCC)
Civil Society Network Against Agenda (CSNAC)

Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)

Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement YIAGA

Protest to Power

Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA)

Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD)

National Procurement Watch Platform (NPWP)

Center for Democratic Research and Training (CRDDERT)

Organisation of Trade Unions of West Africa

African Center for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL)

Borno Coalition for Democracy and Progress (BOCODEP)