The report titled ‘Imperative of Strengthening Nigeria’s Transparency and Accountability Measures,’ which was made available to The PUNCH on Monday, states categorically that the transparency and accountability measures that is presently in place in the country has not wrought the desired effect on governance and development
It noted that gaps in legislation, capacity, values and resourcing, have frustrated transparency and accountability in the country and said bridging these gaps would strengthen the various anti-corruption measures and in turn deepen good governance.
“As Nigeria prepares for a new government, a stocktaking of the transparency and accountability measures is desirable. This is to ensure that the zeal for transparency and accountability is sustained and that the prevailing measures are fit for purpose, and further strengthened and institutionalised. Whether now or in the future, Nigeria clearly needs more transparency and accountability, not less.
“Transparency and accountability measures are put in place to enthrone good governance in general
and, specifically, to curtail corruption, which has been rightly described as the bane of the Nigerian society. Though a few derive disproportionate benefits from it, corruption stifles development and imposes a high cost on individuals, businesses, and the country at large,” it noted.
One of the measures the think tank assessed was asset declaration.
The PUNCH had reported that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the 44 ministers in the Federal Executive Council would soon start declaring their assets ahead of May 29 when their tenure would end.
The Special Adviser to the CCB Chairman on General Duties, Dr Mustapha Musa, confirmed to The PUNCH on Sunday that the necessary arrangements had been made for the issuance of the asset forms to the outgoing officials and their successors.
The think tank however noted that “Like assets declaration, the practice of routine audit and public accounts oversight has not maximally benefitted the country. It is curious as well that Nigeria still operates a colonial audit law
passed in 1956. The connotation aside, contemporary audit challenges have moved beyond what the law can sufficiently handle, prominent among which are requirements of independence and the powers to sanction erring MDAs by the Auditor-General of the Federation (AuGF).”
Some other measures assessed by the think tank include; yearly and routine audit, freedom of information, public procurement, publication of subnational transfers, disclosure of extractive sector revenues and beneficial ownership to prosecution, asset recovery.
Others are the whistle-blower policy, government’s e-payment platforms – such as Integrated Payroll and Personnel information system (IPPIS) and Government Integrated Financial Management. Information System (GIFMIS).
It added, “Among such challenges are the vexed
issues of non-disclosure and non-verification, by the CCB, of assets declared by public officials. Yet, these are necessary preconditions for transparency and accountability. It is important to fix these challenges, in addition to the perennial problem of poor budgetary allocations.
“Most of the interventions have been made since the return to civil rule in 1999, and some of them have yielded some results and milestones,” however it added that “despite the achievements, the problem of transparency and accountability remains.
“The assumption that transparency and accountability automatically lead to good governance did not take into account attendant challenges such as social behaviours in the forms of resistance and sabotage.”
Making recommendations for improvements, the report which was put together by a group of experts with the support of MacArthur Foundation, noted that there was need to enhance legal backing for some of the initiatives, faithful enforcement or implementation of existing laws, improvement in capacity and funding for some of the implementing agencies, enhancement of collaboration across tiers of government and implementation of a sustained and strategic campaign on value reorientation.
It noted that the President should sign the newly passed Federal Audit Service Bill into law, passage of the Whistleblowing Law, verification of declared assets to the CCB to ascertain the veracity of claims by the declarant as well as amendment of the provision of Paragraph 3(c) of the First Schedule of the Constitution of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to empower the CCB to make assets declared to it “available for inspection by any citizen of Nigeria.”
The report further recommended that transparency and accountability should be redefined to align with insights about social habits and collective action adding that Increasing active and participatory citizenship by civil society organisations
and the media is also needed.
