Press Release: Engendering Accountable and Transparent Governance System in Nigeria
ActionAid Nigeria in partnership with the Department of Political Science of the University of Abuja welcomes you to this press briefing on engendering accountable and transparent governance systems in Nigeria.
Nigeria over the years has progressively shown commitments both at the national and international scenes on its efforts to fight corruption. However, these commitments have not been followed through religiously to see outcomes translating into a better society. These gaps have caused a global concern on whether these commitments are mere political rhetoric or more grievously a political calculation to fool the Nigerian citizens.
In an attempt to find a lasting solution to the menace of corruption, the President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 made fighting corruption top on his agenda as one of those cardinal objectives his administration will deliver to Nigerians. The efforts to realise this ambitious goal is commended because it led to some occurrences where a sitting Senate President and a Chief Justice of Nigeria were docked on allegations of corruption and past State Governors on trial were also sentenced for fraud which led to recovery of some looted assets.
In the midst of these efforts, Nigerians seem not to be satisfied because it appears many corrupt leaders in the past still walk freely in the street of our country., Some indicted persons have even found their ways into governments either as lawmakers or ministers of various ministries in our country.
This is worrisome especially when we appraise the cost of corruption and how it has eroded our quality of lives, educational system, health system, good road, portable water and our business environment among many other areas. It has also exacerbated the inequality gaps thus resulting in poor economic growth, low productivity which culminate in more people slipping into the abysses of poverty every day.
In 2016, Price Water House Coopers Ltd (PwC) report shows that corruption in Nigeria could cost up to 37% of GDP by 2030 if it is not dealt with immediately. This cost is equated to around $1,000 per person in 2014 and nearly $2,000 per person by 2030. What this simply means is that by 2030, corruption if not dealt with will cost an average Nigerian $2,000 which in the Nigeria equivalent is N630,000 as at yesterday 26th September 2019.
In view of avoiding this impending danger and saving the future, we will suggest the following:
- There should be a very robust anti-corruption strategy which allows citizens to take ownership of the anti-corruption fight.
- A strong national holistic campaign against corruption.
- Encourage research and development on anti-corruption model that fits our context in Nigeria.
- Start-up re-orientation schemes to re-instate our enviable moral values in schools, religious centres and homes.
- Sanctions should be effectively meted out on offenders to ensure that justice is done and seen to have been done.
In line with this, ActionAid Nigeria is currently implementing an Anti-Corruption project called Strengthening Citizens’ Resistance Against Prevalence of Corruption (SCRAP-C). It is a 5-year project supported by DFID. The aim of the project is to contribute to the reduction of corruption in Nigeria through change in public attitudes and behaviours and taking actions that increasingly disapprove of corrupt activities.
ActionAid Nigeria is currently implementing the SCRAP-C project in 6 states in Nigeria namely: Akwa-Ibom, Borno, Enugu, Kaduna, Kano-Jigawa and Lagos and we are collaborating with the media on investigative and data journalism, moral institutions, community groups, youth, women, people with disability groups and the academia because we believe all hands must be on deck for Nigeria to kick out corruption from her shores.
#ENDS
Editors' notes
ActionAid Nigeria is a social justice non-governmental organisation working to eradicate poverty through gender equality and the redistribution of wealth and power. ActionAid is global movement of people working together to further human rights for all and defeat poverty. We prioritise works with the poor and excluded, promoting values and commitment in civil society, institutions and governments with the aim of achieving structural changes to eradicate injustices and poverty in the world.
Contact: Nihinlola Ayanda - Communications Coordinator - ActionAid Nigeria
Tel: +234 (0) 812 888 8826 Email: Info.nigeria@actionaid.org/Nihinlola.ayanda@actionaid.org
Website: www.actionaid-ngr.org Facebook: ActionAidNigeria Twitter: @ActionAidNG