Despite allocating substantial funds, amounting to over $19.9 billion from 2016-2019, to strengthen the defence and security sector, Nigeria continues to experience worsening insecurity, experts have observed.

 

Expressing their disappointment on worsening security situation of the country known at a one-day workshop recently, the experts also charted ways of combating corruption in Nigeria’s defence and security sector.

 

The workshop was organised by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)/Transparency International in Nigeria (TI-Nigeria), in collaboration with Transparency International – Defence and Security Project (TI-DSP).

 

It was supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and in conjunction with technical support from the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR).

 

It was aimed to facilitate a national discourse on defence and security oversight, equipping stakeholders with the tools to understand, interrogate, and conduct effective oversight in the defence and security sector.

 

The workshop which also sought to elicit commitment from relevant institutions to contribute to the reform of the defence and security sector moreso featured technical sessions with presentations. Some of the topics of the presentations are, the Linkages between Corruption and Insecurity in Nigeria, Collaborative Approaches to Implementing and Monitoring Anti-corruption Reforms, and the Framework for anti-corruption Reforms in the Defence and Security Sector.

 

In it’s communique at the end of the workshop, the stakeholders lamented that corrupt and weakened defence , security sector undermines the effectiveness of security institutions, thereby jeopardising the peace, stability, and security of the country.

The communique was signed by signed by Musa Ibrahim, on behalf of MDAs, Code of Conduct Bureau; Alicho Ogbu, for CSOs, Youth Initiatives against Violence and Human Rights Abuse and Abdullahi Ahmad for Legislators, House Committee on Army.

 

Hence , addressing corruption is crucial to fostering transparency, responsiveness, and efficiency within Nigeria’s defence and security sector, given the grave impact corruption can have on the sector if left unchecked, it stated.

 

The communique also pointed out that Nigeria has commendable anti-corruption policies, such as the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PIGA), Budget Reforms, deployment of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) for payroll and social investment, adoption of accrual-based accounting system, membership in the Open Government Partnership (OGP), creation of efficiency unit, asset recovery reforms, reforms of longstanding cash call, and the whistleblower policy, but unfortunately, poor implementation has rendered these policies largely ineffective.

 

“Many revenue-generating Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in Nigeria, such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), fail to remit returns to the government’s coffers and lack proper accountability for the significant portion of revenue they expend.”

 

“Lack of collaboration and partnership among stakeholders hinders the effective implementation of anti-corruption policies, including the “Insistence on Conditionality of Fiscal Support to States.”

 

“The power of anti-corruption oversight agencies, such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC), to investigate serving military personnel is severely limited.”

 

“The absence of legal backing and whistleblower protection impedes the effectiveness of the Whistleblower Policy. ”

 

However, the communique observed the following recommendations as ways of combating corruption in Nigeria’s defence and security sector.

 

“Need for increased transparency and accountability in the expenditure of the defence and security budget to enhance oversight.”

 

“Stakeholders to view combating corruption in the defence and security sector as a personal mission, highlighting that fighting insecurity starts at an individual level.”

 

“Underscoring the importance of implementing preventive measures to address threats to peace and security effectively.”

“Advocate for the adoption of specific legislation to ensure that defence and security purchases undergo careful assessment, planning, and execution in accordance with a published defence and security policy. ”

 

“Promoting integration of modern technology in payment systems within the defence and security sector. ”

 

“Update codes of conduct to explicitly prohibit all forms of corrupt activity and outline the possible sanctions for officers found guilty of corruption. ”

 

“Advocate for the establishment of specific and robust protections for whistleblowers.”

 

“Emphasize the importance of improving governance as a means to reduce security vacuums in which extremist groups thrive. ”

 

“This includes countering the narrative put forth by non-state armed actors that they are the only alternative to a corrupt state structure.”

 

“NASS should develop specific security reforms aimed at systematically curbing the root causes of corruption within the defence and security institutions in Nigeria.”

 

 

“Adopt an adequate checks-and-balances approach to oversee the activities of the MDAs (Ministries, Departments, and Agencies).

Involve civil society organizations (CSOs) in the budgeting and monitoring processes to hold the MDAs accountable for the non-execution of approved projects.

Encourage the mainstreaming of anti-corruption in security sector reform efforts. ”

 

“Implement merit-based recruitment practices through proper vetting.

Promote merit-based promotions within the defence and security sector.”

 

 

“Advocate for the amendment of the Procurement Act to promote transparency and accountability within the defence and security sector.”

 

 

“Strengthen the capacity of oversight agencies to act and fight corruption by amending relevant establishment acts, if necessary, and providing adequate funding for their oversight functions.”

 

 

“Advocate for the amendment of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act to eliminate grey areas.”

 

 

“Seek judicial intervention to ensure transparency in military budgeting, for example, through organizations like the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).”

 

 

“Advocate for the mainstreaming of anti-corruption into security sector reforms.”

 

Participants at the workshop include representatives from the Ministry of Defence, Federal House of Representatives (House Committees on Army, Navy, Air Force, Defence and National Security and Intelligence), Ministry of Police Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Code of Conduct Bureau, Office of the Auditor General, Bureau of Public Procurement, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC), Human Rights Commission, Civil Society Organizations, and the Media.