Rising insecurity, threats to livelihood traceable to corruption – CISLAC, Transparency Intl

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, and the Transparency International In Nigeria, TI-Nigeria, has attributed the rising insecurity and threats to livelihood of Nigerians to corrupt practices and mismanagement of funds.

The organizations noted that Nigeria is facing diverse corruption-induced security and financial issues that continue to defy all efforts to tackle it

The Executive Director CISLAC/ and TI-NIGERIA, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, made the remark at the North-West Regional Press Conference of the organization held in Kano on Thursday.

The press conference was organized for the dissemination of a Policy Brief titled:”Defence Sector: Persistent Corruption Risk Amidst Escalating Security Threats.”

“The ongoing corruption, fraud, financial mismanagement and wider abuse of power within the defence and security sector have exacerbated Nigeria’s numerous security threats and threatened the country’s ability to mitigate escalating violent conflicts within its borders,” Rafsanjani said.

According to him, the failure of state security forces to protect local populations from terrorist violence has contributed to the proliferation of self-defence militias and the militarization of local communities.

“The Nigerian State is also confronted with violent security threats. The country faces an intense proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

“In 2021, it was estimated that Nigeria domiciled roughly 70 percent of illicit arms and weapons in West Africa.

“This has heightened insecurity, contributing to a nationwide rise in kidnapping, banditry, sexual and gender-based violence, killings and other security issues,” the executive director said.

CISLAC also observed that the financial management of the defence sector is severely constrained by the bypassing of existing, albeit limited rules, with the effect of institutionalizing informal practices for the benefit of individuals rather than human security.

“Moreover, GDI data shows that external auditing of defence institutions is compromised by a lack of access to information and cooperation by the Ministry of Defence which regularly refuses to submit documents in a timely fashion and bars auditors’ access to accounts,” the organization said.

It, therefore, recommended the adoption of an internationally accepted range of exceptions for defence and security that could be used in the development of legal frameworks, especially in the right to information(RTI) law or information classification systems.

“In partnership with TI-DS with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Netherlands, we demand continued support to national and sub-national stakeholder platforms that engage with the Nigerian Government on key issues related to defence and corruption,” the group said.

It said this would allow civil society actors and the media to provide inputs into national security strategy discussions and implementing policies.

CISLAC further demanded the adoption of global practices and standards for public disclosure of critical information about the defence sector, including defence budgets, competitive contracting, defence income and foreign assistance, disaggregated expenditures and asset disposal.

It also recommended the immediate amendment of the Audit Act by the National Assembly “to address current trends and challenges, while enhancing the effective functioning of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation to fully interrogate financial management in the defence and security sector.”

Rising insecurity, threats to livelihood traceable to corruption – CISLAC, Transparency Intl