Nifemi Babasanmi
Participants at a One-day Civil Society Dialogue on Anti-corruption in the Defence and Security sector has called for collaboration between civil society, government institutions, and international partners, to transform the sector.
In a Communique signed by the Executive Director of CISLAC- TI, Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani, Edem Peace of AKGCODA, and Ndifreke Patrick of GTI, the experts called for a more accountable and transparent security apparatus, ultimately bolstering national security and integrity.
The group disclosed that Corruption and financial mismanagement in the Defence and Security sector are necessitated by high value contracts, high level information secrecy, political connections, complex/technical procurements procedures, and exploitation of the hierarchical nature of the military.
“While 62% of 86 countries of the world assessed in Transparency International 2020 Government Defence Integrity Index (GDI) were at high risk of Defence and Security Corruption, Nigeria rated E with range scores of 32-17, indicating very weak safeguards against corruption.”
They further highlighted that Corruption and financial mismanagement in the Defence budget and Security provisioning in Nigeria manifest in procurement, asset sales, budgetary process, salary theft, illicit use of military intelligence, among others.
The group called for effective reform of the Defence budget and Security provisioning through improved institutions, public financial management, systems, and controls.
“We need to strenghten external oversight independence and mechanisms on the Defence budget and Security provisioning, while taking into cognisance comprehensive regulatory framework, regular audit and review, and whistle-blower protection”.
