CSOs Task Tinubu on Implementation of Anti-corruption Strategy

By Lucky Isibor

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)e in Nigeria have appealed to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to implement the National Anti-Corruption Strategy and the Proceeds of Crime Act to give bit to the nation's war on corruption.

The CSOs also appealed to the United States Government to support civil society organisations in Africa, including Nigeria to participate in the forthcoming United Nations Coalition Against Corruption (UNCAC) Conference of State Parties 10 (CoSP10) holding in Atlanta later in the year.

The CSOs made the calls in a communique at the end of One-Day National Dialogue on Anti-Corruption held on July 25, 2023, in Abuja hosted under the ANEEJ-SCALE project tagged "Enhancing Anti-corruption and Social Inclusive Reform Initiatives in Nigeria". 

The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), is implementing the SCALE project as the anchor for the anti-corruption cluster, working with eight partner Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) project.The cluster is working to promote anti-corruption and social inclusive policy reforms through multi-stakeholder initiatives at both national and sub-national levels in Nigeria, as well as promote reforms in the development commissions established by federal and state governments to develop the Niger Delta region.  

The SCALE project which is designed to enhance local civil society organisations's ability to be positive and responsive agents in Nigeria is a 5-year project being implemented by Palladium and its resource partners with funds from United States Agency for International Development (USAID). 

The communique also urged the media to work more closely with CSOs to develop and build their capacity on key areas of development needs as well as around whistleblower protection law.

"The Federal Government should ensure the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy and the Proceed of Crime Act.

"The United States Government should provide support for the participation of civil society from developing Countries including Nigeria in the forthcoming UNCAC CoSP10 in Atlanta, Georgia United States.

"The Nigerian Government should provide leadership for Africa Union in the implementation of the AU Common Position on Asset Recovery (CAPAR) and the Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) Principles".

The communique also urged CSOs to endeavour to tell their success stories and engage with government development programmes as they affect the populace especially the positive aspect of the use of the social register for Cash Transfer Programmes, and others, which some government officials have described otherwise.

"That Civil Society should endeavor to tell their good stories and engage with government development programs as they affect the populace especially the success aspect of use of the social register for Cash Transfer Program, others, which some government officials have described otherwise.

"That civil society organizations need to develop a new comprehensive conversation around anti-corruption by beaming search light at the states and local government, and not only at the federal government. They should not be discouraged about criticism or attacks by those in position of authority.

"That the media should work more closely with the civil society organizations to develop and build their capacity on key areas of development needs as well as around whistleblower protection law.

"That CSOs should engage in more strategies and learning principles that will enhance their capacity to engage critical issues of corruption, especially as it relates to ethics and standards expectations in public procurement and good governance.

"That though a lot has been done, there is need to do more in the areas of judicial reforms through case management of corruption and criminal cases as well as advocacy for credible practitioners such as lawyers and judges in the system."

The communique also appealed to donor agencies, development partners and CSOs to unite to support weak CSOs to deliver on germaine issues around development like anti-corruption and others.

"Development partners, donors and CSOs should unite in supporting weak CSOs to deliver on key issues of development, such as anti-corruption and to build their capacity for effective engagement.

"That CSOs leaders should encourage and provide more space for government as partners in the fight against corruption by carrying out more advocacy to enlighten the government on the importance of the issues".

While commending the United States Government for its commitment to hosting the CoSP 10, the communique observed that the conference provides an opportunities opportunities to tackle the challenges of Beneficial Ownership, protection of civic space and grand corruption. 

"That the current position of NEC and Nigeria State Governors that described the social register put together under the Buhari administration as not credible, is unhealthy and undermines the efforts by the civil society to support the government in the fight against corruption. 

"The upcoming UNCAC Conference of State Parties (CoSP10) is an opportunity for the international community and all stakeholders to step up global campaign to strengthen global financial system.

"The United State Government commitment as the host of CoSP10 provides opportunities to tackle the challenges of Beneficial Ownership, protection of civic space and grand corruption".

The National Dialogue was attended by a wide range of stakeholders numbering over 50 from across members of the anti-corruption cluster, CSOs working on anti-corruption issues in Nigeria, journalists, representatives of anti-corruption agencies; the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), representative of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), OGP National Secretariat, SCALE Project Team and other development partners such as the US Embassy in Nigeria, The British High Commission and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).