• Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
    • Government
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
    • PR Nigeria Award
  • E-Paper
Search
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
PRNIGERIA PRNigeria News
PRNIGERIA PRNIGERIA
  • Home
  • Anti-Corruption
    • Mohammed Idris Malagi, Honorable Minister of Information and National Orientation

      FG Reaffirms Non-Interference in ICPC, EFCC Operations

      ICPC Secures Conviction of Rector for Running Unaccredited Degree Programmes

      Engr Abba Babagana Dalori

      Engr Dalori Forfeits Galaxy Hospital, Petrol Station, Properties & Cash

      Chinese nationals jailed in Lagos

      Court Jails Nine Chinese Nationals for Cybercrime in Lagos

      ASUU

      Tackle Corruption, Institutional Decay – ASUU Charges FG

  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
    • Customs Begins Live Operations of Automated Excise Register System

      Still on the “National Single Window” Project By Abdulsalam Mahmud

      Minister of Finance Wale Edun and the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adeniyi decorating OP Olaniyan

      Customs Generates N3.7trn in H1 2025 as FG Targets Enhanced Private…

      Customs Gets 4 New Deputy Comptrollers-General, 12 ACGs, Promotes 3,312 Officers

      DG NITDA Inuwa Kashifu at the GITEX Nigeria

      Sanwo-Olu, Tijani, Kashifu Urge Digital Innovation as GITEX Nigeria Opens

  • National
    • Eid El-Maulid: Kwara Gov Urges Muslims To Embrace Unity, Shun Partisanship

      Military Troops during operations

      Troops Recover Weapons in Kwara Operation, Donate Fertiliser to Farmers in…

      BUKAA Announces 2025 AGM at BUK New Campus: Join In-Person or…

      Officers of NSCDC Mining Marshals

      Nigeria’s War on Illegal Mining Needs the Media on the Frontlines…

      Building Resilience: Crisis Communication in Modern Organizations By Princewell N. Achor

    • Government
      • Ganduje: A Lifetime of Service Beyond Politics By Garba Yusuf Abubakar

        Eid El-Maulid: Kwara Gov Urges Muslims To Embrace Unity, Shun Partisanship

        Officers of NSCDC Mining Marshals

        Nigeria’s War on Illegal Mining Needs the Media on the Frontlines…

        FG, Experts Urge Information Commissioners to Partner with ICPC on Grassroots…

        ASUU-STRIKE

        Strikes in Nigeria and the Collapse of Public Service By Tahir…

  • Security
    • NSCDC, Army Foil Bandit Attack on Plateau Farmers

      Troops Eliminate Bandits, Rescue Abductee, Recover Motorcycles in Katsina

      Military Troops in Action

      Military Foil Terrorists Attack, Recover Dozens of Rustled Livestock in Sokoto,…

      Military Troops during operations

      Troops Recover Weapons in Kwara Operation, Donate Fertiliser to Farmers in…

      Military Troops in Action

      Troops Ambush Militia Plotting Attack on Plateau Villagers

  • Features
    • Ganduje: A Lifetime of Service Beyond Politics By Garba Yusuf Abubakar

      ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi

      DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi: The Spokesperson Who Redefined Police Communication

      (L-R) Yahaya Bello and Usman Ododo of APC Kogi

      RECOMMENDED: Godfatherism the Ododo-Bello Way!! By Nafisat Bello

      Officers of NSCDC Mining Marshals

      Nigeria’s War on Illegal Mining Needs the Media on the Frontlines…

      Building Resilience: Crisis Communication in Modern Organizations By Princewell N. Achor

  • State
    • Ganduje: A Lifetime of Service Beyond Politics By Garba Yusuf Abubakar

      NSCDC, Army Foil Bandit Attack on Plateau Farmers

      Troops Eliminate Bandits, Rescue Abductee, Recover Motorcycles in Katsina

      Military Troops in Action

      Military Foil Terrorists Attack, Recover Dozens of Rustled Livestock in Sokoto,…

      Military Troops during operations

      Troops Recover Weapons in Kwara Operation, Donate Fertiliser to Farmers in…

  • Event
    • BUKAA Announces 2025 AGM at BUK New Campus: Join In-Person or…

      Vice President Kashim Shettima and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

      Shettima at 59: Tinubu Hails VP’s Loyalty, Commitment to Service

      Erasmus Ikhide damaged Vehicle and Dangote Cement Truck

      Erasmus Ikhide Narrowly Escapes Death in Collision with Dangote Truck

      Supporters of Senator Shehu Buba

      PHOTOS: Bauchi Constituents Rally APC to Draft Senator Buba for 2027…

      The authors and their books

      PHOTOS: NIPR Hails Latest PRNigeria Books at Economic Confidential Lecture

    • PR Nigeria Award
  • E-Paper
Home General Still on Security Votes and Corruption in Nigeria- Auwal Musa Rafsanjani
  • General

Still on Security Votes and Corruption in Nigeria- Auwal Musa Rafsanjani

By
Auwal Ibrahim Musa (rafsanjani)
-
May 28, 2018
CISLAC Musa Rafsanjani
CISLAC Musa Rafsanjani

Still on Security Votes and Corruption in Nigeria
Auwal Musa Rafsanjani

Recently we hosted an event, which served as an enabling platform to raise public and policy consciousness against an institutionalized form of corruption face-marked as “Security Votes” which precarious risks and implications are extensively revealed and verified in a Report titled “CAMOUFLAGED CASH: How Security Votes Fuel Corruption in Nigeria.”

The growing budgetary allocation to the nation’s security sector with contending political struggles for security votes has exacerbated corruption which is not far-fetched in Nigeria’s security sector.

Security votes are one of the most durable forms of corruption that exists in Nigeria, and it is time for us to end this outdated relic of military rule and ensure that funds are used to protect citizens, not line the pockets of politicians.

The total security vote spend is 241.4 billion Naira. That is:
• More than the annual budget of the Nigerian Army
• More than the annual budget of the Nigerian Air Force and Navy combined
• More than 70% of the annual budget of the Nigerian Police Force
• Almost three times the US security assistance since 2012
• More than 15 times the UK counter-terrorism support for 2016 – 2020

And these vast sums are spent without the basic controls you would expect in a democracy, like transparency on their use, or audits. They’re hidden behind a veil of secrecy that serves to mask all sorts of sins. In some cases, the findings of this research are almost laughable:

• The Federal School of Dental Technology and Therapy in Enugu received $2,800.
• The National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism Development Studies received N5,668,635.
• In Bayelsa State, funds went to the Special Advisor for Beautification.

Now perhaps there is some reason for these expenditures. But without any justification for them, there’s no way for us as civil society and the citizenry to know.

And though some of these findings seem almost like a joke, the security implications are of grave concern.

In Borno State, officials almost certainly have spent a significant amount of their security vote on financing a security presence as well as sponsoring the 26,000-strong militia, the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF). But those CJTF members report that they don’t receive their already-meagre pay of $100 per month, which the government promised them when they joined.

And we know that security votes can fuel the kind of political violence that, particularly in the run-up to this next election, puts the lives of Nigerians and the stability of our country at risk. We have seen this in Anambra State, where funds have gone to vigilante groups like the Bakassi Boys. Security votes are providing officials with slush funds to build private armouries, stoke ethnic tensions and divide opponents, creating dangerous networks of power.

Read Also:

  • Ganduje: A Lifetime of Service Beyond Politics By Garba Yusuf Abubakar
  • DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi: The Spokesperson Who Redefined Police Communication
  • NSCDC, Army Foil Bandit Attack on Plateau Farmers

Security votes represent a significant waste of resources that our legitimate military forces desperately need to tackle the range of security issues we face – piracy in the Delta, Boko Haram, and farmer-herder conflicts require a response, and in order to provide it these forces need funds. But spending on something with security in its name does not create security. Instead, security votes represent a drawing-away of money from those institutions that actually need it most – and because they are conducted with no oversight, control or transparency, they in fact feed into conflict and stoke tensions, rather than resolving them.

Ultimately, we need to have security votes brought to an end. Legislation should be introduced to this effect as soon as possible, and it should be accompanied by legislation specifying budgeting procedures and criteria for security expenditure.

But we recognise that this will take some time. And the first step is to look at the model of Lagos, where a trust fund has been set up that takes the oversight out of the hands of those receiving this money. The LSSTF is governed by a board that includes government, civil society, and private sector representatives. It is audited independently each year, and its procurement processes are competitive and relatively free from security force interference. This has led to increased support from the private sector – 30-40% of its funds now come from companies – and provides a model that other states should look to, until a complete ban on security vote spending is enacted.

In spite of non-existence of specific constitutional or statutory basis, security votes are publicly permitted, prioritised and sustained regardless of transparency, accountability and impacts of utilisation at all levels of government. It is on this note that the Report provides detailed accounts, historical perspectives and implications of security votes to our nation’s socio-economic and political prosperity.

While it acknowledges the existing efforts by many state governors who use a significant portion of their security votes to top-up funding to federal security agencies operating in their states, the Report, with case studies from federal and states levels, does not conceal the fact that widespread use of security votes by federal, state, and even local officials clearly undermines transparency and accountability, and international practice.

Similarly, the report exposes the extent of misplaced priority in the allocation of security votes where some identified Ministries, Departments and Agencies received security votes in the proposed 2018 budget, despite having no security-related function.

I hope relevant stakeholders will effectively utilise holistic recommendations itemised and highlighted in this Report to interrogate transparency and accountability, uproot the precarious socio-economic implications of security votes in the country and restore sanity in our financing for the security sector.

I would like to appreciate Transparency International Defence and Security (TI-DS) for its support that brought this Report to limelight; and my colleagues at Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), which is a National Contact of Transparency International (TI), for making it worthwhile.

AUWAL IBRAHIM MUSA (RAFSANJANI)
Executive Director,
Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)

VISIT OUR OTHER WEBSITES
PRNigeria.com EconomicConfidential.com PRNigeria.com/Hausa/
EmergencyDigest.com PoliticsDigest.ng TechDigest.ng
HealthDigest.ng SpokesPersonsdigest.com TeensDigest.ng
ArewaAgenda.com Hausa.ArewaAgenda.com YAShuaib.com
  • TAGS
  • Camouflaged Cash
  • CISLAC
  • SEcurity Votes
Previous articleWomen Minister Appeals for Domestication of Child Rights Act in the North
Next articleICPC Docks UK-based Neurology Prof, Wife over N233.6m Fraud
Auwal Ibrahim Musa (rafsanjani)
Auwal Ibrahim Musa (rafsanjani)
https://prnigeria.com
PRNigeria is the pioneer Press Release Distribution agency in Nigeria. A member of image Merchant Promotions limited, PRNigeria encourages individuals and organisations to be more transparent in their information management. with dedicated Editorial staffs, the PRNigeria ensures that information provided on its platforms are timely, factual and authoritative Read more at: //prnigeria.com/about/
Facebook Twitter

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

Eid El-Maulid: Kwara Gov Urges Muslims To Embrace Unity, Shun Partisanship

Building Resilience: Crisis Communication in Modern Organizations By Princewell N. Achor

Mohammed Idris

Minister: Tinubu’s Reforms Driven by National Interest, Not Partisanship

Nigerian Police Force

Police Arrest Kidnappers, Recover Arms, N6.9m in A’Ibom, Nasarawa

CP Jimoh Moshood

Lagos Police Bust Car Theft Syndicate, Recover Stolen Bus

Police Officer

FCT Police Arrest 10 Suspected Drug Dealers, Recover Drugs, Kidnapping Proceeds

Officers of NSCDC Mining Marshals

Alake Orders Mining Marshals to Seal Illegal Gold Mining Site in Gwagwalada

Kaduna Peace Model Restores Farmlands, Reopens Markets Amid Security Gains-Maiyaki

AUDA-NEPAD Rallies Africa’s Capital Markets to Close $90bn Infrastructure Gap

The authors and their books

PHOTOS: NIPR Hails Latest PRNigeria Books at Economic Confidential Lecture

court Judiciary

Law Firm Challenges EFCC Statement Over Bauchi High Court Ruling

Alh. Yushau Shuaib, Brig Gen. (rtd) Chris Olukolade and Mallam Kashifu Inuwa

NITDA, IMPR Spotlight AI as Driver of Nigeria’s Digital Future at Economic Confidential Lecture

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Log in to leave a comment

Recent Posts

  • Ganduje: A Lifetime of Service Beyond Politics By Garba Yusuf Abubakar
  • DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi: The Spokesperson Who Redefined Police Communication
  • NSCDC, Army Foil Bandit Attack on Plateau Farmers
  • Eid El-Maulid: Kwara Gov Urges Muslims To Embrace Unity, Shun Partisanship
  • Troops Eliminate Bandits, Rescue Abductee, Recover Motorcycles in Katsina
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
© 2020 PRNigeria. All Rights Reserved.
Latest News
Ganduje: A Lifetime of Service Beyond Politics By Garba Yusuf AbubakarDCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi: The Spokesperson Who Redefined Police CommunicationNSCDC, Army Foil Bandit Attack on Plateau FarmersEid El-Maulid: Kwara Gov Urges Muslims To Embrace Unity, Shun PartisanshipTroops Eliminate Bandits, Rescue Abductee, Recover Motorcycles in KatsinaMilitary Foil Terrorists Attack, Recover Dozens of Rustled Livestock in Sokoto, KebbiTroops Recover Weapons in Kwara Operation, Donate Fertiliser to Farmers in ZamfaraTroops Ambush Militia Plotting Attack on Plateau VillagersRECOMMENDED: Godfatherism the Ododo-Bello Way!! By Nafisat BelloBUKAA Announces 2025 AGM at BUK New Campus: Join In-Person or VirtuallyNigeria’s War on Illegal Mining Needs the Media on the Frontlines By Zekeri Idakwo LarubaBuilding Resilience: Crisis Communication in Modern Organizations By Princewell N. AchorIGP Egbetokun Appoints CSP Hundeyin as New Force PROMilitary Explains Why Retirees Can’t Benefit from New Minimum Wage ChartCustoms Begins Live Operations of Automated Excise Register System
X whatsapp