CISLAC fights corruption

By Adeola Tukuru

Abuja

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has condemned the spate of official corruption in the country saying it is disturbing.
At the 2017 Anti-corruption Day celebration in Abuja, the Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa, noted that deliberate political reluctance permeating the fight against corruption in the country is lamentable.
“We are aware of the various commitments including the 2016 Anti-Corruption Summit in London and campaign promise by the Present administration to combat corruption in all ramifications without fear or favour.
“We find it disturbing that official corruption is deeply embedded and fast becoming a permanent fixture whose subculture melts seamlessly into the public servants’ daily life.
“We are worried over the administration’s continued unwillingness to exert appropriate sanction against erring officials found wanting in cases of silent but illegitimate re-engagement of the former Chairman of the Presidential Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, who was disengaged from service by the previous administration over N2.7b Pension Fraud; non-investigated N120bn security scam attributed to the serving Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Kpotum Idris.
“The hypocritically unresolved alleged breach of due process in the award of $25 billion contract involving the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru.
“We are concerned over the administration’s emerging dwindling capability in handling high profile corruption cases, giving chances to culprits to walk freely on the street and positive signal to potential culprits to freely engage in corruption,” he said.
He pointed out that systemic corrupt practices is still been encouraged and celebrated, especially in the public sector, adding that if not addressed will ultimately erode citizens’ trust and confidence in governance and eventually backpedal the gains and recorded progress in the anti-corruption fight.
He further stated that apparent disregard for relevant anti-corruption bills and the needless legislative time and resources dedicated in pushing for passage of NGO Bill by the National Assembly, is a setback to anti-corruption efforts of the government.
“We are bothered that, despite various administrative promises and commitments to combat corruption, corruption remains a menace crippling Nigeria’s socio-economic development including the fast-falling educational standard, dilapidating health care, bad roads, rising unemployment that precariously breeds social vices like vandalism, armed robbery, kidnapping, youth agitation, poorly motivated security personnel, youth under-development, bad governance, and the eroded public services.”
The group therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to fulfill his promises and fully implement various policies that will further give bite to the fight against corruption.
“We call on the National Assembly to descend from potential activities that could sabotage anti-corruption effort and support legislative processes and activities that aid anti-corruption.
“We demand adequate protection and encouragement for whistle-blowers, and call for intensified media and public consciousness in demanding transparency and accountability in governance,” he said.

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