SAN advocates monitoring of public funds in fight against corruption

A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), has said corruption would have been drastically reduced had Federal Government established a surveillance unit to monitor public funds.

He also lamented the inability of the government to establish a national council under the Public Procurement Act to monitor and prevent corruption in the N1.8 trillion earmarked for capital expenditure in the 2016 budget.

His words: “The provisions of that Act are such that if EFCC and its sister agencies were to provide with surveillance and monitoring support, a substantial source of leakages and corrupt practices at the level can be obviated”.

He spoke at the 14th Crusade for Justice annual lecture themed: “Towards a Corruption Free And Egalitarian Society, the Change Start With the Leadership” held in Sheraton hotel, Ikeja Lagos.

Speaking further on the topic titled: ‘The Role of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, The Independent Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Commission And Other Agencies In The Fight Against Corruption in Nigeria’, the senior advocate said it is a matter for regret that in the 2016 budget, N1.8 trillion was appropriated for capital expenditure.

“We are now 10 months to the year and still there is no national council for public procurement. That is the body charged with oversight on all public procurement of goods, works and services by all federal agencies and parastatals with some exemptions like arms procurement for military and police”, he said.