Stephen Enoch
The Fiscal Discipline and Development Advocacy Center (FiDAC) with support from the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC II) organized a workshop on Wednesday to commemorate the 2023 International Anti-Corruption Day in Kano.
The day was commemorated by FiDAC on Wednesday at Tahir Guest Palace, alongside
The event which was themed “Uniting the World Against Corruption” with a sub-theme, “Strengthening Kano State Anti-Corruption Strategy (KANSCACS) and Open Government Partnership (OGP) implementation” had members of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and stakeholders in attendance.
The International Anti-Corruption Day is being observed annually, on 9 December, since the passage of the United Nations (UN) Convention Against Corruption on 31 October 2003 to raise public awareness for anti-corruption.
The Convention states in part, that the UN is concerned about the seriousness of problems and threats posed by corruption to the stability and security of societies, undermining the institutions and values of democracy, ethical values, and justice.
It also seeks to promote, facilitate, and support international cooperation and technical assistance in the prevention of and fight against corruption and promote integrity, accountability, and proper management of public affairs and public property.
The Executive Director of FiDAC, Dr Abdulsallam Kani said the event seeks to raise awareness on fighting corruption in Kano state.
He noted that corruption is endemic in Nigeria, consequently, its consequences translate to worsening poverty among the populace and is also a cause for insecurity because funds meant to better the economy are often embezzled with impunity.
Dr Kani emphasized the need for Kano to domesticate the Proceeds of Crime (PoC) Law to enhance efforts of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) in the effective management of stolen funds and recovered assets.
He added: “We will carry out advocacy to the Kano State House of Assembly (KSHoA), the Governor, and other critical stakeholders for the domestication of the PoC Law.
“By domesticating this law, it will prevent corruption from happening and we will not relent in our effort to ensure that the state ameliorates all forms of corruption to the barest minimum.”
The Program Director of ROLAC II, Dr Emmanuel Uche, said that deepening the fight against corruption and ensuring transparency and accountability can only be achieved when the government is answerable to the people in all spheres.
“The fight against corruption in Kano is fair enough but the State can do better by domesticating the PoC Law and by doing so, it will rescue the state out of the deep well of corruption which Nigeria has found itself.
“The next phase of work we will do at ROLAC is to support Kano to enhance issues of anti-corruption by stepping issues of transparency and accountability down to the service Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
“This will be done so that the people whom democracy is meant for can begin to feel the impact of democratic governance and get easy access to health, quality education, justice, and others,” Dr Emmanuel said.
