MRA To FG: 'Take Decisive Action To Combat Corruption, Empower Citizens With Information'

The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), led by President Muhammadu Buhari, was, on Friday, charged to take decisive action to combat corruption in Nigeria by empowering citizens with information through the effective implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 to engender transparency and accountability in governance.

The charge came from the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) through a statement issued by its Communications Officer, Idowu Adewale, in commemoration of this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD).

The statement quoted MRA's Programme Officer, Ms. Maimuna Momoh, as saying, “The pervasive corruption in Nigeria is undermining democracy in the country, subverting electoral processes, perverting the course of justice and the rule of law, exacerbating poverty and economic underdevelopment, and not only sabotaging the war against terrorism and violent extremism but aggravating the conflict by providing funding for it to destabilise democratic institutions.”

According to her, “if effectively implemented, the Freedom of Information has the potential to rein in the rampant corruption in the country as it would instil transparency into governance, enabling citizens to hold public officials and civil servants accountable for their fiscal decisions and actions as well as the performance of other aspects of their duties and functions.”

While noting that in recognition of the role of access to information in combatting corruption, the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) identified various categories of information that should be made publicly available to enable the fight against corruption and ensure effective government accountability, she observed that this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day seeks to highlight the crucial link between anti-corruption and peace, security, and development while making the case that tackling the crime of corruption is the right and responsibility of everyone, and that government officials, civil servants, law enforcement officials, media representatives, the private sector, civil society, the academia, the youth, and the public all have a role to play in uniting the world against corruption.

Momoh however argued that without an effectively functioning Freedom of Information framework, most of these identified stakeholder groups, particularly media representatives, the private sector, civil society, the academia, the youth, and the public, cannot play a meaningful role in stamping out corruption.

She expressed disappointment that despite the strong anti-corruption platform upon which President Muhammadu Buhari ran for election to the office of President over eight years ago, his administration had not demonstrated any decisive or concerted effort to ensure the effective implementation of the FOI Act as most public institutions and officials in his government have continued to disregard and violate the provisions of the law with impunity.

Momoh, therefore, called on the Buhari Administration to take urgent measures in its last few months in office to ensure full compliance with and the effective implementation of the FOI Act by all public institutions to leave a more positive legacy in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

All rights reserved. This material and other digital volumes on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from THE NEWS ACCELERATOR NETWORK.

For advert placement, please contact thenewsacceleratornetwork@gmail.com or 08033599492.