…as CISLAC and TI-Nigeria lead charge against defence corruption
By Nkechi Eze
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Transparency International Nigeria (TI-Nigeria), in collaboration with Transparency International’s Defence and Security Programme, with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, recently convened a two-day Steering Committee Meeting on Anti-Corruption in the Defence and Security Sector.
The aim of the meeting is to strengthen the capacity of member organizations to advocate for transparency and accountability in the management of Nigeria’s defence and security sector. Participants included civil society groups, gender-based networks, ministries, security agencies, and the media.
Key concerns raised during the meeting included the unchecked culture of exceptionalism, lack of access to information, contradictory provisions in existing laws, and inadequate protection for whistleblowers. The meeting also highlighted issues such as corruption, nepotism, and gender disparity in the defence and security sector.
Participants noted that the present administration has not shown an open commitment to implementing the Whistleblower Policy or passing related Bills, which has negatively impacted anti-corruption efforts in the sector. They also expressed concerns over the Defence sector’s increasing involvement in commercial activities, which has raised questions about transparency and accountability.
The meeting further identified several challenges facing the sector, including weak legislative oversight, disproportionate allocation of security personnel, intrinsic logistics challenges, poor remuneration, and inadequate training and re-training programmes for personnel on human rights protection.
To address these issues, participants resolved to galvanize advocacy efforts towards upholding transparency and accountability in the sector, renew civil society advocacy for the passage of comprehensive Whistleblowing Protection Bills, and enhance media engagement to uncover neglected high-profile defence corruption cases.
They also called for the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, protection of whistleblowers, and increased transparency in Defence procurement processes. Additionally, they advocated for the full implementation of Federal Character provisions in the appointment of core positions in the Defence and Security sector and for gender mainstreaming in the sector.
The meeting’s outcome is expected to promote transparency, accountability, and good governance in Nigeria’s defence and security sector, and to ensure that the sector is managed in a way that prioritizes the security and well-being of all Nigerians.
The participants committed to maintaining synergy through sustained activities of the Steering Committee, leveraging dialogues and advocacy to break communication barriers in the Defence and Security sector, and increasing civil society engagements to navigate the recruitment process in the Defence sector for thorough scrutiny free of nepotism.
They also pledged to strengthen civil society advocacy towards institutionalized whistleblowing mechanisms in the Defence and Security sector and to enhance agenda setting by civil society and the media to uncover neglected high-profile Defence corruption cases for maximum accountability.
