A Civil Society Organization – Accountability Lab, has tasked the Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration on ensure independence of anti-corruption agencies to rid the country of corruption.

The Country Director, Accountability Lab, Friday Odeh while speaking at an Integrity Innovation Lab workshop yesterday in Abuja, mentioned that although there was slow progress in the anti-corruption fight by the new government, there was need by Tinubu’s administration to prioritize building of accountable institutions and ensuring independence of anti-corruption agencies

He said: “We have seen the clash between politics and governance; we need to see a clear line between politics and governance where people get into government to serve and not for their own interest.”

On the naming and shaming of corrupt public officers, Odeh mentioned that Accountability Lab believed in positive reinforcement and messages, saying that research has proven that negative messages do not reduce corruption but rather reinforce corruption and negative behavior.

He said that positive messages like naming and faming integrity icons like what is being done at the Accountability Lab will further increase positive behavior.

He stated that the workshop was channeled at supporting their integrity icons to see how they can partner with ant- corruption agencies such as the ICPC, Servicom and Bureau of Public Service Reforms to develop innovative ideas to build integrity and accountability in public service, MDAs, and see how their ideas can impact their network within their office spaces.

Odeh stated that they were trying to build their network, develop their capacity and see how they can influence people in their work places.

He mentioned that although it may be hard to resist corruption in the present day Nigeria, that does not mean that Nigerians should engage in corrupt practices, saying that in the best interest of everyone, it was important for people to look beyond the benefit of corruption to individual pocket to how they want to develop the society and make people do the right thing.

“So, I believe that in spite of the challenges, ethics and integrity should be the priority.”

He stressed that the government has the responsibility to set the policies and the agenda right, adding that with government signing into the Open Government Partnership which also imbibe the principle of accountability and open governance.

The ICPC Deputy Director, Education, Mr. John Odey, stated that being a member of the anti-corruption coalition registered with the ICPC, the agency identified with all the members in their endeavor to fighting corruption in the country.

He stressed that Nigeria has come to a point of naming and shaming corrupt public officers and also reward those who stand for what is right.

According to him, ICPC since 2019 has been conducting the national summit on diminishing corruption and had often presented integrity award to people who have consistently demonstrated accountability, transparency in their spare of influence.

He added that such naming and faming of integrity icons will help change the psyche of an average Nigeria, stressing that ICPC has always harped on the need for behavioral change
He therefore urged states to create anti-corruption unit in their MDAs to curb corruption at the state level.