World Anti-Corruption Day: ANEEJ Urges Buhari to Break the Corruption Chain in Nigeria
Press Release
9th December, 2015.
Benin City- Given the worrisome level of corruption in almost all sectors of the country, the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), a non-profit, Non-Governmental Organisation working on corruption and governance issues has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to Break the Corruption Chain in Nigeria by strengthening all regulatory agencies and institutions of government and insulate them from all forms of political interference.
ANEEJ on the occasion of this year’s World Anti-Corruption Day, with the theme “Break the Corruption Chain” said Nigeria needs strong institutions and not strong individuals to effectively combat graft in the country.
“We laud President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign, it is key to our nation’s development. We want the Federal Government to make its anti-corruption agencies and regulatory institutions to work independently as a panacea to curbing the endemic corruption in the country. Heads of such regulatory and enforcement agencies and institutions should not wait for Mr. President to take decisions on violators of the law. It is wrong and unacceptable,” Executive Director of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, Rev David Ugolor said.
“Our president must not be exposed to public ridicule by those saddled with the responsibilities of regulating key agencies of government. Conversely, regulatory institutions must be given free hand to do their jobs. The institutions on their part need to put in place mechanisms to ensure that all those who violate their regulations are promptly detected and sanctioned irrespective of who is involved. When regulatory institutions are allowed to do their jobs as we have seen in the case of National Communications Commission against MTN and the National Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) against Guinness Nigeria Plc, it will be a huge source of revenue for government especially now that the price of crude oil in the international market has raised the red flag for Nigeria.
“Government can then set up a monitoring team to ensure that the agencies are not involved in any sharp practices or acts inimical to their set mandates. But most importantly, the presidency must be insulated from their operations.” Ugolor emphasised
“Also, the anti-corruption agencies should be strengthened and properly funded to be able to track, trace and deal with all cases of financial crimes. Nigerians want the Judiciary to expeditiously deal with all cases of corruption in court and not to keep them for too long as justice delayed is justice denied.” the ANEEJ helmsman submitted.
ABOUT ANEEJ:To contribute to the emergence of a just and equitable African society through socio-economic and environmental rights protection, institutional strengthening and people’s empowerment.
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