Civil Rights and Development Resource Centre -CIRDEV (CIRDEV Resource Centre), a civil society organisation based in Ilorin, Kwara state, Wednesday challenged the state government to enact a law that will back the establishment of anti-corruption commission in the state.
The center noted that with the quantum of corruption and financial crime cases happening at various states and local government levels, leaving the anti-graft war in the hands of federal government anti-graft agencies alone will not produce the desired results.
These were contained in statement issued by the executive director of the center, Luqman M. Shaffi, and made available to journalists in Ilorin.
The center commended the Lagos state government for being the latest state to take the bull by the horns to establish its own public complaint and anti-corruption commissions after Kano and Oyo states.
It tasked Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara state to muster the courage to do same.
“With this legislation, Lagos state has institutionalised the fight against corruption in the state.
‘The said law empowers the commission to investigate and prosecute officials of the state government and registered contractors alleged of economic crimes and financial misappropriation. No doubt, this action would bring about sustainable development in the state.
“Creation of state anti-graft commissions has become imperative in the country due to the quantum of corruption going on at various states and local government levels.
“Corruption and financial crimes going on at states and local government levels are too many for the federal government anti-corruption agencies like EFFC and ICPC to curb.
“This development brings the number of the states with anti-graft commission to three in the country. Kano state was first, followed by Oyo state.
“The centre hereby urges Kwara state government as a matter of urgency to set the ball rolling towards enactment of a law creating an anti-corruption commission in the state for such commission is critical to the delivery of dividends of democracy and quality services to the citizens.”
