By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Despite the existence of a well developed set of anti-corruption laws and institutions in Nigeria, there are still leakages in the implementation of some of the laws.
This was unveiled in the Report of a human rights and advocacy organisation, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) on how ministries, departments and agencies (MDA’s) are getting away with corruption in Nigeria.
The Report titled “Above the Law: How Ministries, Departments and Agencies are getting away with corruption in Nigeria” was presented by the Executive director of Paradim Leadership Support Initiative, Mr. Olusegun Elemo, held in Lagos on Tuesday.
According to the Report, the major problems encountered in combating corruption in these ministries, departments and agencies are leakages, abuse of Public Procurement Act, granting cash advances above the approved limit of N200,000 and appropriation of funds without getting audited report of previously approved budget.
From the Report, it was noted that from the Auditor-general’s report of 2017, there is ample evidence to conclude that corruption has remained as a major challenge in ministries, departments and agencies in Nigeria.
It therefore advocated for the enactment of laws on proceeds of crime, whistle blower protection and campaign finance.
Besides, the Report indicted the Executive arm of government of controlling the office of the Auditor general of the federation, contrary to what the Constitution says on the autonomy and duties.
While presenting the Report to the public, the presenter, Olusegun Elemo said; “the office of the Auditor general as it is today is under the control of the executive arm of government. This is an aberration”
“With such control, the Auditor general cannot muster enough courage to effectively audit these government ministries departments and agencies which are directly under the control of the executive arm.”
From the analysis of Auditor general’s report of 2017, 16 revenue generating agencies did not remit the sum of N19,025,384,100.29 ; 26 MDA’s did not deduct and/or remit sum of N1,650,417,379.30 ; Irregularities in contract award, execution and payment to the tune of N28,569,846,170.59.
There were also loss of funds/revenue, diversions of government property and funds unaccounted for in other sectors.These sectors are: Store items not taken on store charge; Unretired loans and advances; Repeated balances for repayments; Non disclosure of details of federal government grants and contributions; Transfers to other government entities treated as an expense; Unauthorized deductions from the federation account by revenue collecting agencies and Non remittance of funds to federation account.
All these loss of funds/ revenue as a result of corruption in various sectors in these ministries, departments and agencies amount to N2,066,424,153,379.63, SERAP’s report reveals.
However, the report recommended measures to be applied in order to checkmate financial fraud and corruption in these ministries, departments and agencies.
The report recommended amongst others: Immediate imposition of stringent sanctions, including withholding financial releases and sanctioning of the chief executive officer of MDA’s implicated in cases of corruption within their ministries, departments and agencies;
Establish an independent commission of inquiry with subpoena power to conduct a transparent, comprehensive and impartial investigation into systemic corruption within ministries, departments and agencies;
Refer reports of corruption in MDA’s identified in the Auditor-general reports since 2013 to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure prompt, thorough and effective investigation and prosecution of any cases of corruption in these MDA’s where there is relevant admissible evidence.
Improve financial oversight of MDA’s including by publishing quarterly budget execution reports, ordering an independent financial audit of MDA’s by a qualified auditing company that conforms to international standards for auditing public sector entities and ensure that the audit report is made public.
Proactively push for an Audit bill that would ensure the independence, integrity and autonomy of the office of the Auditor- general of the Federation.
The event which featured presentation of the report to the media, a panel discussion, and an interactive session on the theme: “Why are authorities turning a blind eye to corruption in Ministries, Department and Agencies and its impact on public services in Nigeria” was organized in collaboration with the MacArthur Foundation.
It brought together media stakeholders including civil society organizations, the media, members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), activists, ministries, agencies and departments (MDAs) and anti-corruption agencies.