CORRUPTION INDEX:SERAP BACKS TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL
Corruption
Index: SERAP backs Transparency International, urges Buhari to take ranking as
‘wake-up call’
Presidency accuses Transparency
International of publishing fiction
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP,
has urged “the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to see the Transparency
International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI), published last week, as
a wake-up call to renew its oft-expressed commitment and raise its game to
fight both grand and petty corruption, as well as end the legacy of impunity
rather than simply dismissing the survey as ‘fiction’.”
According to Transparency International’s report, the
perception of corruption has worsened under President Muhammadu Buhari. The
report showed that the perception of corruption in Nigeria worsened between
2016 and 2017.
But the presidency has criticised the global watchdog, saying
that TI was publishing fiction.
Reacting, SERAP in a statement on Sunday by its deputy
director, Timothy Adewale, said, “While TI’s index only measures perceptions of
corruption, their findings correspond substantially with the reality of
impunity of perpetrators, as demonstrated by the low conviction rate, the
authorities’ slowness to adopt and implement critical reforms, appearance of
selectivity in the anti-corruption fight, apparent complicity of key officials
and cover-up, as well as unaddressed alleged corruption against several state
governors.
The authorities should take the report seriously and use it as an
opportunity to raise their game in their efforts to rid our country of
corruption and underdevelopment.”
The organisation said that, “The government should make no
mistake about this: Nigerians know corruption when they see it. Rather than
simply criticizing TI as publishing fiction or going after its board members,
the government should accept the fact that its oft-expressed commitment to
fight corruption has not gone to plan.”
The statement read in part: “The CPI may not be perfect, and
in fact no index is. The CPI may not show actual evidence of corruption in the
country, but perceptions are commonly a good indicator of the real level of
corruption. In any case, the devastating effects of corruption in virtually all
sectors providing essential public services are too glaring for Nigerians to
ignore.
“While the government may have blocked some leakages in the
systems and reduced the level of impunity witnessed under the previous
administrations, it has not done enough to address longstanding cases of
corruption, and the appearance of selectivity in the prosecution of corruption
allegations especially when such cases involve those close to the seat of
power. Today, corruption still constitutes one of the greatest threats to the
country’s sustainable and equitable development.
“Almost three years after taking office, and promising to
fight grand corruption, no ‘big fish’ suspected of corruption has yet been sent
to jail. The situation has not significantly improved, and it seems unlikely
that many of those facing grand corruption charges will be successfully
prosecuted. Nigerians need to see real commitment and heavy investment in
promoting a culture of clean government, and total obedience to the rule of
law.
“Possessing the political will to fight corruption is not in
itself enough if it’s not sufficiently demonstrated. Buhari should take the CPI
to heart and initiate and actively facilitate the passing of tough
anti-corruption laws, strengthening the capacity and independence of
anti-corruption agencies, substantially improving the criminal justice system,
obeying decisions and judgments of our courts, and ensuring the passing of the
Whistle-blower Bill.
“Buhari can’t fight corruption successfully without
significantly improving on the tools used by his predecessor former President
Goodluck Jonathan. The government should as a matter of urgency implement
governance reforms to advance effective functioning of government institutions,
strengthen the quality of democratic institutions and rule of law, and reducing
corruption, if Nigeria is ever going to improve on its global anti-corruption
ranking.”
“Public officials still use political power to enrich
themselves without considering the public good. Selective application of the
law is a sign that the law is not being followed strictly enough, and that the
fight against corruption is not maximally prosecuted.
“In several states of the
federation, and federal ministries, corruption is taking place every day and
every hour, especially in the power sector, the education sector, the water
sector, the health sector and other important public sectors. Corruption
continues to directly affect the lives and well-being of millions of Nigerians
across the country, and to erode public trust in public institutions and
leaders, threatening the foundation of our democracy.
“There is uneven implementation of
the rule of law and democratic processes, limited citizen participation in policy
processes, and deliberate disobedience of court orders and judgments, such as
the judgment of Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court obtained by
SERAP, which ordered the government to publish widely how recovered stolen
funds since the return of democracy in 1999 have been spent.
“The best measure of a country’s
progress toward transparency and accountability is a total obedience to the
rule of law. The law ought to command the highest levels of respect
by for example, the government immediately obeying orders and judgments of
competent courts. The fight against corruption won’t succeed if the government
continues to selectively adhere to law or refuse to rectify any disobedience.
No country in which official position and orders claim a place in people’s
minds higher than the law can truly be said to fight corruption.”
“Democracy works only if the people
have faith in those who govern, and that faith is bound to be shattered when
high officials and their appointees engage in activities which arouse
suspicions of malfeasance and corruption.”
The Corruption Perceptions Index
(CPI) is one of the most respected international measurement of corruption
trends. It was established in 1995 as a composite indicator used to measure
perceptions of corruption in the public sector in different countries around
the world. The CPI draws upon many available sources which capture perceptions
of corruption.
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EFCC
operative used to illustrate the story
Related
News
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP,
has urged “the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to see the Transparency
International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI), published last week, as
a wake-up call to renew its oft-expressed commitment and raise its game to
fight both grand and petty corruption, as well as end the legacy of impunity
rather than simply dismissing the survey as ‘fiction’.”
According to Transparency International’s report, the
perception of corruption has worsened under President Muhammadu Buhari. The
report showed that the perception of corruption in Nigeria worsened between
2016 and 2017. But the presidency has criticised the global watchdog, saying
that TI was publishing fiction.
Reacting, SERAP in a statement on Sunday by its deputy
director, Timothy Adewale, said, “While TI’s index only measures perceptions of
corruption, their findings correspond substantially with the reality of
impunity of perpetrators, as demonstrated by the low conviction rate, the
authorities’ slowness to adopt and implement critical reforms, appearance of
selectivity in the anti-corruption fight, apparent complicity of key officials
and cover-up, as well as unaddressed alleged corruption against several state
governors. The authorities should take the report seriously and use it as an
opportunity to raise their game in their efforts to rid our country of
corruption and underdevelopment.”
The organisation said that, “The government should make no
mistake about this: Nigerians know corruption when they see it. Rather than
simply criticising TI as publishing fiction or going after its board members,
the government should accept the fact that its oft-expressed commitment to
fight corruption has not gone to plan.”
The statement read in part: “The CPI may not be perfect, and
in fact no index is. The CPI may not show actual evidence of corruption in the
country, but perceptions are commonly a good indicator of the real level of
corruption. In any case, the devastating effects of corruption in virtually all
sectors providing essential public services are too glaring for Nigerians to
ignore.
“While the government may have blocked some leakages in the
systems and reduced the level of impunity witnessed under the previous
administrations, it has not done enough to address longstanding cases of
corruption, and the appearance of selectivity in the prosecution of corruption
allegations especially when such cases involve those close to the seat of
power. Today, corruption still constitutes one of the greatest threats to the
country’s sustainable and equitable development.
“Almost three years after taking office, and promising to
fight grand corruption, no ‘big fish’ suspected of corruption has yet been sent
to jail. The situation has not significantly improved, and it seems unlikely
that many of those facing grand corruption charges will be successfully
prosecuted. Nigerians need to see real commitment and heavy investment in
promoting a culture of clean government, and total obedience to the rule of
law.
“Possessing the political will to fight corruption is not in
itself enough if it’s not sufficiently demonstrated. Buhari should take the CPI
to heart and initiate and actively facilitate the passing of tough
anti-corruption laws, strengthening the capacity and independence of
anti-corruption agencies, substantially improving the criminal justice system,
obeying decisions and judgments of our courts, and ensuring the passing of the
Whistle-blower Bill.
“Buhari can’t fight corruption successfully without
significantly improving on the tools used by his predecessor former President
Goodluck Jonathan. The government should as a matter of urgency implement
governance reforms to advance effective functioning of government institutions,
strengthen the quality of democratic institutions and rule of law, and reducing
corruption, if Nigeria is ever going to improve on its global anti-corruption
ranking.”
“Public officials still use political power to enrich
themselves without considering the public good. Selective application of the
law is a sign that the law is not being followed strictly enough, and that the
fight against corruption is not maximally prosecuted.
“In several states of the
federation, and federal ministries, corruption is taking place every day and
every hour, especially in the power sector, the education sector, the water
sector, the health sector and other important public sectors. Corruption
continues to directly affect the lives and well-being of millions of Nigerians
across the country, and to erode public trust in public institutions and
leaders, threatening the foundation of our democracy.
“There is uneven implementation of
the rule of law and democratic processes, limited citizen participation in policy
processes, and deliberate disobedience of court orders and judgments, such as
the judgment of Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court obtained by
SERAP, which ordered the government to publish widely how recovered stolen
funds since the return of democracy in 1999 have been spent.
“The best measure of a country’s
progress toward transparency and accountability is a total obedience to the
rule of law. The law ought to command the highest levels of respect
by for example, the government immediately obeying orders and judgments of
competent courts. The fight against corruption won’t succeed if the government
continues to selectively adhere to law or refuse to rectify any disobedience.
No country in which official position and orders claim a place in people’s
minds higher than the law can truly be said to fight corruption.”
“Democracy works only if the people
have faith in those who govern, and that faith is bound to be shattered when
high officials and their appointees engage in activities which arouse
suspicions of malfeasance and corruption.”
The Corruption Perceptions Index
(CPI) is one of the most respected international measurement of corruption
trends. It was established in 1995 as a composite indicator used to measure
perceptions of corruption in the public sector in different countries around
the world. The CPI draws upon many available sources which capture perceptions
of corruption.
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It is sad that the hope that BUHARI would combat corruption has been a misplaced hope.One had expected that by now all those whose cases are lying in the courts over the years would have been banned from seeking political offices until their cases are determined.This is because these alleged corrupt politicians use their resources to obtain interminable injunctions in the courts.Once u place a ban on them from seeking political offices, appointive or elective, they will pursue these cases vigorously .
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