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From Julianah Taiwo Obalonye (Abuja) and Lukman Olabiyi (Lagos
Following the alleged misappropriation of funds recently discovered in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, which led to the suspension of the minister, Betta Edu, lawyers and a civil society group have urged President Bola Tinubu to muster the needed political will to fight the scourge of corruption in government ministries, departments and agencies.
Former chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, Dave Ajetomobi said fighting corruption demands courage and determination.
“If he’s determined, he will succeed. But by the time political consideration comes in or thoughts about the next election, politicians may not be able to take the required decisive action. The strong political will is required but Nigerians doubt if any president can doit. If Buhari can be a lame duck for eight years, the masses doubt if it can be done. It is obvious that MDAs are a cesspit of corruption,” he said.
Another, senior lawyer, Kabir Akingbolu said fight the against corruption should not be selective. He said in taming sharp practice in MDAs, no stone should be left unturned and all hands should be on deck. Akingbolu advised that both former and present ministers, who had been accused of misappropriation of funds, should be brought to book.
He said: “This is the same ministry that claimed it was feeding school children during lock down. Who are those eating the food? There are lots of rot in that ministry and govt should try to overhaul it,” he said.
Also, right activist and lawyer, Gedion Okebu said the recent events at the Ministries of Humanitarian Affairs and Interior have cast a spotlight on the corrupt practices prevalent amongst public officers in the country. He said corruption in MDAs can be curbed by competent and effective monitoring, inspection and enforcements by the Bureau of Public Procurement.
“The Public Procurement Act (PPA) is a veritable tool for fostering and maintaining the integrity of the procurement processes in MDAs, which if properly implemented and enforced, could have prevented the recent event at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.”
Executive director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, also said there should be strict adherence to the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 in all procurement processes carried out by all MDAs. The Anti- Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), one of the initiatives of the ICPC to combat corruption in public service should be revived and properly strengthened in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, he added.
“Integrity Pacts should be introduced in MDAs as a way of promoting integrity, accountability and transparency among all those working. The government should consider creating Disciplinary and Ethics and Values Departments in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies which will be responsible for promoting our ethics and values amongst staff and all those who interact with government institutions while also ensuring that all allegations of corruption within the particular MDA are properly investigated and the guilty parties are punished,” Rafsanjani stated.
