Corruption: ActionAid Says Transparency International Ranking Shows Nigeria’s Deplorable Anti-Corruption War

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

ActionAid Nigeria has condemned the pervasive corruption in the country, insisting that Nigeria’s current ranking on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) underscores a deplorable performance by the Nigerian government in its anti-corruption endeavours.

Speaking in Abuja yesterday in the wake of the damning revelations from the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International on the Thursday, ActionAid Nigeria’s Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, said the report has exposed the harsh reality of the anti-corruption war in Nigeria

He said: “The Transparency International report is an unequivocal indictment on the Nigerian Government and the collective conscience of Nigerians, especially public office holders. The persistent corruption scores, fluctuating between 25 and 28 out of 100 from 2012 to 2016, and continuing a downward spiral through 2022, underscore a deplorable performance by the Nigerian government in its anti-corruption endeavours.

“The report further highlights what Civil Society Organisations and fellow Nigerians have long been decrying – the anti-corruption endeavours of the Nigerian Government, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are nothing short of a grotesque mockery of the citizens’ intelligence. In stark contrast, Denmark, with its consistent top ranking as one of the least corrupt nations, serves as a stark reminder of the stark disparity in the global fight against corruption.’’

He added that: “The report which shows a stark revelation of the interconnection between corruption, conflict, and the deterioration of global peace over the past 15 years, is a damning testament. ActionAid Nigeria, therefore, calls on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all state governors, being the state executives, to prioritise simultaneous anti-corruption measures and peacebuilding initiatives. They must work with the judiciary to exhibit unyielding determination by expediting legal proceedings, ensuring the swift and impartial adjudication of corruption cases, and adopting a zero-tolerance stance against corruption within its ranks.”

Mamedu said: “President Tinubu must put in place immediately, stringent judicial reforms to eliminate systemic delays, address pervasive bottlenecks, and fortify the justice system’s overall efficacy. Judges and legal professionals must be held to the utmost standards of integrity, and any hint of compromise in the pursuit of justice must be met with severe consequences,” insisting that: “The judiciary’s unequivocal commitment to eradicating corruption is non-negotiable, and resolute actions are indispensable to restore public trust and convey an unwavering message that corruption will face the full and unrelenting force of the law.”

Mamedu further stated that: “The federal and state governments must be reminded that corruption in Nigeria poses detrimental effects on various fronts. Foreign investors, crucial for economic growth, may be deterred from investing in the country due to the perceived risks associated with corrupt practices. This hindrance will impede economic development, ease of doing business and job creation, thereby exacerbating the country’s socio-economic challenges. Additionally, corruption contributes to inflation and insecurity by diverting funds meant for public welfare into private pockets, further burdening citizens – as already demonstrated in our reality. It is quite appalling that it is because of these same corrupt practices by selfish interests that the social investment programmes have been suspended.”

He said: “ActionAid Nigeria is watching and waiting for the federal government to mete out commensurate legal force on the corrupt, self-seeking elements in other ministries like the Ministry of Finance, Health, and other MDAs in order to restore public trust and, ultimately, the nation’s economic image.”

He noted that: “The battle against corruption demands unequivocal leadership from the Presidency and the state governors, and Nigerians are vigilantly observing to ascertain whether they will undertake the necessary and resolute actions imperative for the nation during these challenging times.

“ActionAid Nigeria stands in solidarity with Transparency International’s efforts to combat corruption and looks forward to collaborative initiatives aimed at addressing the root causes of poverty and promoting a culture of integrity.”