…advises global corruption monitory body to change rating template
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Federal Government has reacted to the 2022 Corruption Perception Index released by Transparency International, in which Nigeria maintained its 2021 score of 24 out of 100 points while ranking 150 among 180 countries.
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, while reacting to the latest ranking released by Transparency International, said President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has demonstrated the political will to fight corruption going by the high profile persons that have been arrested as well as the legacy projects that the returned Abacha loot have been channeled to.
Recall that the Transparency International had said it’s tool for measuring the level of corruption in the systems of the 180 countries across the world, were based on certain prevalent indices.
The indices are bribery, diversion of public funds, public officials using public office for private gain without consequences, ability of governments to contain corruption and enforce effective integrity mechanisms in the public sector, red tape and excessive bureaucratic burden which may increase opportunities for corruption, meritocratic versus nepotistic appointments in the civil service.
Mohammed said: “With regards to the second question on Transparency International rating of Nigeria, our position is the same. We are not fighting corruption because we want to impress Transparency International or any organization whatsoever. We’re fighting corruption because we believe if we do not fight corruption, there’ll be no growth either in terms of the economy or even political. Therefore, what we do and what we’re putting in place to fight corruption is not because we want to be rated by anybody.
“If, for instance, what we’re doing catches the attention of Transparency International and they improve and give us better marks, so be it. However, I can assure you that we do not know what template TI is using. Whatever template they’re using is clearly oblivious of what this administration is doing, to fight corruption.
“Corruption fighting is not just by how many people have you arrested? How many people have you tried? How many people have you convicted? Of course, even in that respect, we have a very impressive record…is it the EFCC or is it the ICPC? You see, if you look at what we’re doing even to make corrupt practices,
almost impossible or difficult…
“I’ll just give you two examples, for instance, this administration when funds were returned from the Abacha loot and other funds were recovered from the US, the UK and Europe, what this administration did, was that rather than pay these funds into the treasury and face the possibility of it being stolen or being relooted, the administration decided that we will put this money into a separate account and ask the National Sovereign Investment Fund to manage these funds, and we used this money for specific projects.
“And some of our legacy projects today actually are being financed from our money that have been stolen, which were returned and which we have kept. To me, this is one example of how to fight corruption. An example of how to ensure that people do not steal what has been recovered again.
“I make proud to say that we have been more proactive in fighting corruption and people are not willing to see what we have put in place in fighting corruption. And that’s why I gave that example of putting aside money aside and how those funds are being used. Again, the courage of this administration even to expose high ranking officials of administration who have ran foul of the law, is evidence of our determination and courage to fight corruption.
“So, we are not really worried or bothered about rating
of the TI, because we know that everything we do is to ensure that we fight corruption the best way we know how to do. Like I said, if TI are not seeing this, then again, I think they have to change their template. But again, we’re not fighting corruption to impress them.”