Lukman Abdulmalik
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) in partnership with Transparency International Defence and Security Program with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands on Wednesday organized a 2-day training on anti-corruption for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Media, and relevant stakeholders on financial management, gender and operational disparities in Kano.
The training was part of the activities to be conducted in the ongoing TI-DS project implementation which aims at strengthening the capacity of Civil Society to advocate and conduct state and national engagements toward an accountable, responsive, and efficient management of Nigeria’s defense and security sector.
Some of the key objectives of the event include triggering national discourse on defense and security oversight by equipping relevant oversight agencies with a tool to understand, interrogate, and demand defense accountability, to spur state and non-state actors’ discourse on defense accountability and the specific roles of relevant stakeholders (oversight agencies, CSOs, media)., and to develop practical steps towards effective oversight of the defense and security sector by relevant agencies.
The project is implemented across some selected states in the six geo-political zones with Lagos, representing the South West as one of the focal states.
In a welcoming address by the Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Musa, whom Abubakar Jimoh represented, said the training seeks to build the capacity of relevant stakeholders toward tackling corruption in society.
“We are here to ensure that we create synergy in the society and build capacity towards external oversight.
“However, as a civil society or media, you have that fundamental mandate to ensure that you oversight the defense and security sector.
“We are going to have what we call comprehensive reform that will be inclusive and acceptable based on international standards,” he added.
Dr. Sunday Adejoh, a public affairs analyst presented a paper on ‘Strengthening civilian oversight of the defense and security sector: A thematic analysis of government defense integrity index’ highlighted that the Nigerian security sector is like every other sector in the country which cannot be managed without resources.
“That’s why there’s always a need for budgetary allocation for the defense and security sector.”
He called on the CSOs to see themselves as partners in progress as a means to tackle anti-corruption.
“They must not create an impression of anti-ethical organizations in the defense and security sector.
“Also there is a need for collaboration between CSOs and the defense sector to ensure that monies that are budgeted are adequately utilized by those responsible for implementing our defense policy and also ensuring that our country is safe and free from all forms of threat.”
Professor Bello Ibrahim, a lecturer of Sociology at the Bayero University Kano centered his presentation on anti-corruption reforms in Nigeria’s defense and security sector and highlighted that Nigeria government should make it easier for tax evaders to pay, lower rates charged, raise penalties, review cases and enforce them.
“Nigeria government should computerize their civil service, encourage electronic payment systems and raise incentives to raise revenue.”
He recommended that the Nigerian government should simplify procedures for prosecuting corrupt officials, establish hotlines for public reports, and encourage “whistleblowing” and protection.
“The government should decentralize anti-corruption responsibility encourage the passage of freedom of information legislations and encourage spot checks and surveillance.”
