Sir: On May 29, 2023, a new administration, still under the All Progressives Congress (APC) took over the rein of affairs in Nigeria and unlike President Muhammadu Buhari, the newly sworn-in President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not seem to have the issue of anti-corruption as a priority on his agenda, despite the fact that corruption has eaten deeper into every sector of our society and is crippling the country like an epidemic.
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From his campaigns to the manifesto, the President has not shown to Nigerians his anti-corruption agenda and clear plans on how his administration intends to fight corruption.

Over the years, Nigerians have continued to suffer inadequate access to basic social amenities and service delivery such as health care, good roads, electricity, clean water, and education due to the in-depth corruption that has ravaged the system.

Many Nigerian households cannot boast of three-square meals, getting employment into government institutions is no longer on merit but on “who you know” basis, individuals have to pay one form of bribe or the other to access basic services from public institutions.

Despite paying taxes, majority of Nigerians barely enjoy any benefits from government. Just recently, the government removed subsidy from petrol without putting measures in place to cushion the effect, which is untold hardship on ordinary Nigerians.

Prices of goods and service have increased yet the minimum wage of civil servants has not been increased. The system is riddled with various forms of corruption such as nepotism, misappropriation of funds, abuse of office amongst others.

We demand as follows: Passage of the Whistleblower and Witness Protection Bill into law; full implementation of the National Strategy on anti-corruption and the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 across all the states of the Federation including the FCT; Compulsory capacity building exercise for staff of public institutions on the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022 and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 2011.

Effective monitoring and implementation of the Beneficial Ownership register in full compliance with the provisions of CAMA for improved transparency and accountability in public procurement processes.

Effective implementation of the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022, Fiscal Responsibility Act, the Money Laundering and Prohibition Act, 2022 and OGP NAP.

Improved funding for ICPC and Code of Conduct Bureau as well as review by the National Assembly of the provisions of the Acts establishing the ICPC, EFCC and Code of Conduct Bureau regarding the mode of appointment of the Chairman and other key laws used to prosecute cases to enable these institutions carry out their mandate effectively and independently, without undue influence.

• Auwal Rafsanjani, the Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, delivered this address on behalf of about 30 other CSOs
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