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Reinvent anti-graft war, Buhari urges Africa

By Matthew Ogune and Charles Ogugbuaja, Abuja
11 December 2018   |   3:41 am
President Muhammadu Buhari has enjoined heads of anti-graft agencies in Africa to deploy Corruption Risk Assessment (CRA) methodology in the fight against the menace. Opening a three-day training on the concept for the affected persons yesterday in Abuja, the president urged the participants to widen knowledge and skills by supporting the training of risk assessors…

President Buhari declared open the 3- day training workshop on Corruption Risk Assessment (CRA), for the heads of anti-corruption agencies in African Union countries, organized by the ICPC, held at the State House, Abuja.<br />

President Muhammadu Buhari has enjoined heads of anti-graft agencies in Africa to deploy Corruption Risk Assessment (CRA) methodology in the fight against the menace.

Opening a three-day training on the concept for the affected persons yesterday in Abuja, the president urged the participants to widen knowledge and skills by supporting the training of risk assessors for their countries.

According to Buhari, the crusade, which he termed a battle for the souls of the different nations on the continent, is one that must be won.

His words: “Since independence, our continent has suffered from the severe consequences of corruption and it is imperative that we take steps to reverse the trend.

“When we assumed office in May 2015, the pervasive nature and devastating impact of corruption on the Nigerian nation had become dysfunctional. The momentum for our electoral victory could not be separated from the revolt of the people against glaring endemic corruption.

“However, the cost of recovery and sanctions are also enormous. While commendable successes have been recorded, it has become manifest that corruption fights back.”

He went on: “With enormous stolen resources, elements have attempted to compromise law-enforcement institutions and pervert the course of justice.

“This realisation highlights the necessity of building a system that focuses on preventing corruption. We continue to implement policies aimed at building resilient systems that can withstand assault by corrupt officials.

“This direction includes the full implementation of both the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and the Bank Verification Number (BVN), the Open Government Partnership, the various Executive Orders and strengthening of the anti-corruption agencies and permitting their full autonomy.

“It is in this context of building robust preventive systems that we must understand this initiative which aims to train leaders of anti-corruption agencies in Africa by deploying Corruption Risk Assessment Methodology for prevention of sleaze in our countries.”

Buhari noted that the idea “seeks to identify corruption-prone processes and procedures in organisations and recommend appropriate remedial steps.”

In a related development, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has implored state governments to put in place anti-corruption measures for Nigerians to feel the impact of the National Action Strategy (NACS) 2017 -2021 roadmap.

He gave the charge yesterday at the official presentation of the document in Abuja.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) specifically requested the Attorneys -General of the 36 states to advise their governments on cascading the strategy to curb graft nationwide.

Represented by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dayo Apata, the minister commended the European Union for providing the funds and the British Council for managing the process of producing the NACS and its action plan through the Rule of Law Anti -Corruption (RoLAC).

He sought the co-operation of stakeholders, civil society organisations and the public for the successful implementation of the policy.

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