*urges Nigerians to discourage wrong practices
By: Celestine Ukah
The Community Empowerment For Development Initiative, CEDI a Non Governmental Organization, NGO, is advocating for ethical reorientation of Nigerians in public sector in order to help reduce corruption across all areas of the country.
Mrs. Onose, while briefing the press & others observe
This advocacy was made by the Executive Director, CEDI, Mrs. Martha Onose Friday December 9, 2022 during a press conference with select-Journalists at her office in Warri, Delta State, to mark this year 2022 World anti-corruption Day and to also celebrate 20th anniversary of the body which is tagged ‘@20 uniting the World Against Corruption’ she is calling on all concerned to shun corruption as it has destroyed development of Nigerian States and its people.
Mrs. Onose charged Nigerian people to be discouraged from engaging in wrong practices, noting that CEDI will sustain its advocacy on sensitizing Nigerians on the National Anti Corruption Strategy , NACS II being in existence without much attention to the document by the people.
According to the CEDI Executive Director, it is better to prevent corruption than to let it happen, they emphasized on the need for Nigerians to seek attention toward how to manage the recovered looted funds Act signed Into law and as well all should take advantage of the law.
A Cross Section of participants at the press conference
According to the content of the press briefing by CEDI read by the Executive Director, Mrs. Martha Onose, thus:
” It is with great honor and pleasure that I welcome you all to this Event to commemorate the Anti-Corruption Day on National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS II) and pending Anti-corruption bills under the SCALE project tagged Enhancing Anti-corruption and Social Inclusive Reform Initiatives in Nigeria as you are aware, corruption is a major challenge that is hindering the growth and development of Nigeria hence it is consistently ranked one of the most corrupt countries or territories in the world as evidenced by several Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) reports. The 2021 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released by Transparency International (TI) ranked Nigeria 154 out of 180 countries. The latest ranking was five places below the 2020 CPI ranking for the country. Nigeria also scored 24 out of 100 points falling back one point compared to the 2020 CPI, indicating high level of corruption as in the previous reports. Other reports including the Corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and Trends Second Survey on Corruption as experienced by the population, 2019, published by NBS and UNODC supports this position. A number of public institutions in Nigeria are not working effectively to deliver on their mandates to the citizens, this has amplified the corruption situation in the country.
“The overall effect of corruption in the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large is negative with serious implications for security, living standard of the people, economic growth, and development. This affects both men, women and the vulnerable groups including persons with disabilities, even disproportionately. In terms of the Human Development Index score, Nigeria ranked 163rd in the United Nations (UN) Human Development Index (HDI) for the second consecutive year, a new report by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) as the figure remained unchanged with 0.535. Its life expectancy reached 52.7 years in 2021, the expected years of schooling was 10.1, this mean year of schooling was 7.2 and the country’s income per capita hit $4,790 in 2021.
“The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on November 17, 2022, recently launched its most extensive national measure of multidimensional poverty. The report shows that 63% of persons living within Nigeria (133 million people) are multidimensionally poor. The National MPI is 0.257, indicating that poor people in Nigeria experience just over one-quarter of all possible deprivations. Interestingly, some states in the Niger Delta where special intervention commissions like the NDDC and/or the oil and gas commissions operate still record high poverty level.Recall that in an effort to fulfill President Buhari’s campaign promises in 2015, the Federal Executive Council under his Administration approved the National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2017-2021 on the 5th of July 2017. This was in compliance with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) which Nigeria is a signatory to. Under Article 5, Chapter 2 of UNCAC, State Parties are required to develop and implement or maintain effective anti-corruption policies that encourage the participation of society, reflect the rule of law, and promote sound and transparent administration of public affairs.
“The National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) and other anti-corruption laws like the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act 2022, provides the framework that outlines how issues of grand corruption in Nigeria can be tackled. There are also a few of the anti-corruption laws such as the Whistleblower Protection Bill and Witness Protection Bill amongst others that need the assent of President Buhari to encourage citizens report corruption cases if there is legal backing of the law that seeks to protect them.
“The Objective of this meeting is;To carry out press briefing with CSOs, the media and PWDs to raise public awareness and make a case for the NACS 11.Popularize the NACs11call for implementation of NACS II and passage of pending anti-corruption billsWHAT DOES THE NACS SEEKThe NACS seeks to develop and implement mechanisms to improve the governance of public institutions at the Federal, State and Local Government levels To remove corruption related factors inhibiting their accessibility and capacity to deliver quality services to Nigerians. At the level of the private sector and society, The strategy seeks to promote the establishment of ethical standards where they do not exist and enforcement of such standards where they exist.Given the negative effects of corruption in our society, CEDI and other CSOs present, therefore, are demanding that:CEDI welcomes the announcement of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (2022-2026), therefore, calls on the Federal Government to work closely with media and CSOs to popularise the implementation of the newly extended strategy and ensure that it provides mechanisms for creatively aligning different institutions and agencies in the Nigerian integrity framework, and supports private-public partnerships against corruption in a manner that ensures; effective collaboration, coordination, and synergy, as well as delineation of sectoral program priorities, within and outside the public service, whilst serving as the broad umbrella road map under which mass mobilization of citizens behind the crusade is pursued and achieved. Relevant agencies of government fast-track the process of operationalization of the adopted National Anti-Corruption Strategy.
“The NASS should move quickly to ensure quick passage and transmission of the pending anti corruption bills to the President for his assent.
“We also call on Nigerians to uphold values of honesty; integrity and transparency as well as resist, discourage and report against practices to the relevant agencies within their environment” . She stressed.
