By correspondent.
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has praised the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for its probe into the alleged misappropriation of N90 billion in Hajj subsidies.
Mr.Auwal Musa, CISLAC’s Executive Director, expressed concern over the widespread looting during the recent Hajj, emphasizing that the religious significance of the event makes the mismanagement particularly troubling.
Musa said that despite significant federal subsidies, many pilgrims received inadequate services, raising questions about the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria’s financial oversight. He commended the ICPC’s efforts to uncover this fraud and urged it to continue rooting out corruption from public institutions.
Musa also noted that Nigeria’s position at 150 out of 180 in the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index reflects a dire need for reform.
Persistent corruption, he said, has exacerbated poverty, with over 133 million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty due to the misallocation of public funds.
He condemned corrupt officials for worsening the nation’s socio-economic challenges and called for a unified effort to restore integrity and trust in public institutions.
Musa expressed hope that the ICPC’s investigation will mark a significant step in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
A.I.
