Auwalu Musa Rafsanjani, the Executive Director of CISLAC, has claimed that ongoing corruption in Nigeria's public sector continues to undermine the nation's integrity, as the country stands at 142nd position in the latest global anti-corruption index.
In an interview with ARISE News on Wednesday, Rafsanjani remarked, "Corruption within the public sector is persistently damaging the integrity of our country."
He further noted, "Transparency International’s assessment does not consider the efforts of anti-corruption bodies such as the EFCC, ICPC, NFIU, and the Code of Conduct. Instead, the focus is on the corruption prevalent in the public sector and the deterioration of public sector integrity. This situation puts Nigeria in a poor light, despite various anti-corruption efforts being implemented."
Rafsanjani emphasized that improvements in Nigeria's corruption perception index are contingent upon effectively addressing public sector corruption.
"Throughout various sectors, Nigerians encounter daily experiences related to corruption. Thus, it is unrealistic to expect enhancements in the corruption perception index when real-time corrupt activities are ongoing. Transparency International's report serves as an urgent alert for us to identify gaps and prevent these leakages," he advised.
Highlighting the necessity for reforms in Nigeria's political parties, Rafsanjani stated, "We must establish accountability within governance and reform the civil service. If the political framework is flawed, we cannot expect the civil service and bureaucracy to maintain integrity. A collapse in institutional integrity is a significant challenge in battling corruption."
He reiterated, "This report is a clear indication that we must confront fundamental challenges. Reforms are essential to significantly diminishing corruption. Those who have embezzled from the country should not receive political positions or protection; this is vital for reducing high-profile corruption cases. Without investigation and prosecution, and if such individuals simply switch parties while being shielded, corruption will persist."
Rafsanjani advocated for comprehensive reform across all levels of government, arguing that this would strengthen the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
"Addressing corruption requires a multi-tiered approach. In Nigeria, we have local, state, and federal governments, all of which must participate in the fight against corruption. At the federal level, some systems exist to address corruption, but state governments lag behind. Approximately 80% of Nigeria's states lack their own versions of the ICPC or EFCC, allowing corruption to flourish unchecked. They neglect even the foundational rules and regulations, as financial regulations are frequently dismissed," he explained.
He urged all Nigerians to participate in combatting corruption, stating, "The issue of corruption is not solely a federal responsibility; it extends to local and state levels. It involves communities at large. Even on a familial level, it is vital to reject the celebration of corrupt individuals simply due to ethnic ties, religious affiliations, or geographical associations. Celebrating those who have inflicted suffering on Nigeria because of personal connections is unacceptable."
Rafsanjani concluded, "A criminal is a criminal, and engaging in criminal activity mustn't be overlooked due to political biases or identities that have historically weakened Nigeria’s governance models."
Comments (0)
You must be logged in to comment.
Be the first to comment on this article!