President Muhammadu Buhari emphasizes the need to fight graft for the benefit of both the present and future generations in his remarks about leaving a legacy of battling corruption in the nation.
As the special guest of honor for Nigeria’s celebration of the 6th African Union Day of Anti-Corruption with a nationwide dialogue on the theme of “Strategies and Mechanisms for the Transparent Management of COVID-19 Funds,” Buhari revealed this on Thursday.
He emphasized Nigeria’s battles against corruption since 2015 and praised the nation’s anti-corruption institutions and laws.
The president of Nigeria also urged African leaders to step up their efforts to combat corruption and increase the number of incentives against embezzlement of public monies.
“Distinguished participants and fellow African leaders, corruption is evil and all efforts at tackling it are desirable. I have monitored the fight against corruption in Africa and I can see both successes and drawbacks.
“The battle must continue for the sake of the continent and its people no matter the difficulties.
“In Nigeria, the fight against corruption has been vigorous since 2015. A lot has been achieved in the areas of arrest, prosecution, conviction, asset recovery and anti-corruption laws.
“I must admit that the fight has not been a bed of roses. Truly, a lot of more work in many fronts is required.
“For example, civil and public servants must be ethical and professional at all times. The private sector must contribute in curbing corruption. The international community needs to close safe havens.
“The judiciary requires more impetus. Perhaps, an International Anti-corruption Criminal Court is needed,” a statement by Garba Shehu, the presidential spokesman quoted Buhari as saying.
Buhari’s administration has failed to address the problems in the public sector despite coming to power on the promise to do so, which is a major cause of Nigeria’s persistent development challenges.
The Nigerian President was characterized as incompetent and haughty in 2021 by the London-based daily publication The Economist, which also noted that he had failed to address corruption.
The 178-year-old publication claimed that as a result of Buhari’s poor economic management, food prices had increased and the standard of living for Nigerians had worsened.
The editorial had read in part, “Economic troubles are compounded by a government that is inept and heavy-handed. Mr Buhari, who was elected in 2015, turned an oil shock into a recession by propping up the naira and barring many imports in the hope this would spur domestic production.
“Instead he sent annual food inflation soaring above 20 per cent. He has failed to curb corruption, which breeds resentment. Many Nigerians are furious that they see so little benefit from the country’s billions of petrodollars, much of which their rulers have squandered or stolen.”
According to The Economist, Nigeria was already experiencing unheard-of poverty before COVID-19 in 2020.
The United States also described the scale of corruption in Nigeria under Buhari’s administration as “massive” and “widespread”
“Although the law provides criminal penalties for conviction of official corruption, the government did not consistently implement the law, and government employees frequently engaged in corrupt practices with impunity,” the US stated in the “Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government” section of the 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.
“Massive, widespread, and pervasive corruption affected all levels of government, including the judiciary and security services.
“The constitution provides immunity from civil and criminal prosecution for the president, vice president, governors, and deputy governors while in office. There were numerous allegations of government corruption during the year.”
