By Chuks NZEH
The European Union, EU, through its Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption, ROLAC, programme is partnering the Centre for Social Justice, CSJ, to strengthen the National Anti-corruption Strategy in Nigeria.
The project, which is aimed at enhancing transparency, especially in government’s administrative processes, will be implemented in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT and the focal states of Adamawa, Edo, Anambra, Kano, Lagos and Plateau States.
Executive Director of CSJ, Barr. Eze Onyekpere, disclosed this recently in Abuja, at the inception meeting of the European Union/ROLAC2 Project with the theme: Improving the Effectiveness of Anti-Corruption Processes and Reforms.”
Onyekpere said “The goal of the project is to contribute to increased effectiveness of anti-corruption laws, policies, and strategies for the entrenchment of reforms at national and subnational levels, leading to enhanced implementation and compliance with anti-corruption laws.
“Anti-corruption laws and policies are not an end in themselves but they are expected to lead to systemic change, enhanced compliance and behavioural change in society, making it possible for increased prevention of corruption, corrective action in individual cases, detection and prosecution of offenders and to make more difficult, future breaches of the law.
“In the long term, resources which have been diverted due to corruption will be released for poverty reduction and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.”
Also speaking, the Chairman Code of Conduct Bureau, Barr. Murtala Kankia, noted that “Corruption remains one of the most pervasive challenges that continues to impede progress in our society. It weakens institutions, undermines the rule of law, and stifles economic development.
Kankia said “at Code of Conduct Bureau, we are committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity within the public service, and we believe that collaboration is key to making meaningful strides in the fight against corruption.
On his part, the Executive Chairman Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Victor Muruako Esq. who was represented by the Head of Policy and Standard Directorate, Ado Hassan, noted that, the establishment of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, FRC, pursuant to the Fiscal Responsibility Act, FRA, of 2007, underscores Nigeria’s commitment to fostering accountability, transparency, and prudence in its fiscal and financial operations.
He said “Pursuant to the provisions of Section 54 of the FRA 2007, the FRC continues to sensitize and encourage State Governments in the Federation to domesticate the Fiscal Responsibility Act and establish agencies to drive the implementation of these laws at the sub-national level. “