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A group of Civil Society Organization worries over unwary development invading the nation’s socio-economic and political space .
Speaking at Press briefing organized by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and jointly signed by other Civil Society Organizations, The Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Rafsanjani highlighted the issues as violation of electoral guidelines and internal party democracy, corruption and non – appointment of the national Procurement Council, unresolved cases of high profile corruption allegations, inadequate security presence in community and politically motivated killings; poor implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals; slow implementation of reform in the extractive sector; delays in Legislative Action by National Assembly and commendable progress by judicial institution.
Rafsanjani stressed that corruption remains pervasive in Nigeria, putting in place holistic approach towards tackling the menace despite emphasis placed in the public sector (which constitutes an estimated 70% of corruption cases in Nigeria , enthroning integrity and minimizing corruption in both public and private sector continues to remain a priority, featuring prominently in the form of programmes and policies of successive government administration.
Although the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) disclosed recently that 2.9 billion USD have been recovered between May 2015 and October 20, 2017 , but there is little information and absence of clear guidelines on how these recovered assets are utilized to maximally benefit the common citizens whose interest government had promised to protect. says, CISLAC boss.
Recalled that,the recent suspension of Nigeria from the elite EGMONT group of financial intelligence agencies is ample evidence of chaotic institutional structure in the anti-corruption domain, bedeviled by inexplicable inter-agency rivalry and lack of coordination of anti-corruption effort.
Mr Auwal was also bothered that personnel of the Armed Forces, the Police and other security intelligence agencies wallow in poor working conditions and inadequate equipment combined with poorly paid salary without adequate insurance.
In another view, the Director of Partner for Electoral Reforms (PER) Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu noted that candidate selection is a vital activity to the existence of any political party, disturbed by the emerging undemocratic processes employed by political party member in the endorsement of political candidates outside laid down party constitution.
“We are worried by the persistent violation of the Electoral Act with the improper use of electoral time table as announced by Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) by political parties who continue to engage in premature campaign activities” . He said
Barrister Adeshina Oke, Board Member of CISLAC, also commends efforts made by judiciary to clean up its taking disciplinary action by erring judges, adding that the judges should face the full weight of the law like other citizen while appreciating the progress in the recent trial of high profile corruption cases.
