The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Transparency International (TI) Nigeria have openly conveyed their deep worry regarding the appointment of individuals with alleged corruption charges and questionable integrity to influential positions.
These appointments encompass various political parties, as well as both executive and legislative branches of the government.
CISLAC issued a statement on Saturday, delivered by its Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa, expressing concern that such appointments could undermine the morale of anti-corruption agencies across the country.
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Both CISLAC and TI Nigeria have strongly criticized the situation where individuals facing serious corruption accusations are entrusted with leading roles in ruling political parties. This is transpiring while investigations into these individuals are ongoing at both state and federal levels.
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The organizations have shared their disappointment that some of the individuals nominated by the president for ministerial roles are currently under scrutiny for corruption-related matters by anti-corruption bodies.
CISLAC has pointed out that this situation could depict the president as unconcerned about upholding integrity in governance, potentially disregarding public outcry concerning crucial matters, particularly the battle against corruption.
“The ministerial list provided to the senate suggests a regression in our anti-corruption advancements since the reinstatement of democracy in 1999.
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“One of the nominees on the list is a former governor, internationally implicated in aiding a former military leader to launder Nigeria’s wealth overseas.
“Equally alarming is the case of a politician, under investigation by the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), serving in a leadership position within the National Assembly and overseeing anti-graft agencies, including the EFCC itself. The organizations also criticized the reappointment of former governors and ministers who have previously failed in their roles.
“This collection of allegedly corrupt individuals in key positions shows a disregard from the President for public calls for responsible governance.
“Nigeria’s global reputation could face serious harm, with the detrimental impact of activities such as money laundering, drug trafficking, and illegal arms distribution further exacerbating the country’s insecurity, poverty, educational collapse, healthcare infrastructure decline, and eroding ethical values,” the communique partly read.
CISLAC and TI Nigeria lamented the damaging example set for the younger generation by these allegedly corrupt leaders and called on citizens and well-intentioned Nigerians to demand the institutionalization of transparency, accountability, and responsible leadership in public offices.
