Correspondent in Lagos.
Media Rights Agenda (MRA), on Friday, called on the Federal Government to take decisive action to combat corruption in Nigeria by empowering citizens with information, through the effective implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 in order to engender transparency and accountability in governance.
In a statement issued in Lagos to commemorate this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD), MRA’s Programme Officer, Ms Maimuna Momoh, said: “The pervasive corruption in Nigeria is undermining democracy in the country, subverting electoral processes, perverting the course of justice and the rule of law.
According to her, it is also exacerbating poverty and economic underdevelopment, adding that not only sabotaging the war against terrorism and violent extremism but actually aggravating the conflict by providing funding for it to destabilize democratic institutions.”
She said, “If effectively implemented, the Freedom of Information has the potential to rein in the rampant corruption in the country, as it would instill transparency into governance, enabling citizens to hold public officials and civil servants accountable for their fiscal decisions and actions as well as the performance of other aspects of their duties and functions.”
Ms Momoh noted that in recognition of the role of access to information in combatting corruption, the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) identified various categories of information that should be made publicly available to enable the fight against corruption and ensure effective government accountability.
She also observed that this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day seeks to highlight the crucial link between anti-corruption and peace, security, and development while making the case that, tackling the crime of corruption is the right and responsibility of everyone.
MRA image maker added that government officials, civil servants, law enforcement officials, media representatives, the private sector, civil society, the academia, the youth and the public all have a role to play in uniting the world against corruption.
Ms Momoh, however, argued that without an effectively functioning Freedom of Information framework, most of these identified stakeholder groups, particularly media representatives, the private sector, civil society, the academia, the youth and the public, could not play a meaningful role in stamping out corruption.
Ms Momoh, therefore, called on the Buhari Administration to take urgent measures, in its last few months in office, to ensure full compliance with and the effective implementation of the FOI Act by all public institutions in order to leave a more positive legacy in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
