Akpabio Identifies Core Measures Needed to Combat Corruption in Nigeria

Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate, has identifies measures needed to combat corruption in Nigeria corruption.

He asserted that efforts to combat corruption in the nation should focus on increasing accountability, openness, and the power of the judicial system.

This comment was made by the Senate president on Tuesday in Abuja at the National Policy Dialogue on Corruption, Social Norms, and Behaviour Change in Nigerian, which was sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation and hosted by the Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in partnership with the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria.

Gistlover discovered that Akpabio asserted that combating corruption was a difficult and varied challenge.

He explained that “However, we must keep harping on the need to fight corruption and also point out strategies that will help out country to give the fight all the push that it deserves.

“For me, tackling corruption involves transparency and accountability; it is also about strengthening the legal frameworks.

“Nigeria is not lacking in such legal frameworks, and the 10th Senate under my leadership is positioned to bridge any existing legislative gaps in the fight against corruption.

“However, institutions like the ICPC must enforce comprehensive anti-corruption laws that criminalise corrupt activities, establish clear guidelines for ethical behaviours.”

The Senate President, who was represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Saviour Enyiekere, said that Nigeria’s current legal framework ensures the independence of the court and the ability of law enforcement to effectively investigate and prosecute corruption cases.

He continued that “This is because fostering a culture of ethics and integrity in the society through education and awareness campaigns will help to promote such values as honesty and transparency and accountability from an early age.

“We must make deliberate efforts to encourage civil society organisations, the media, and educational institutions to play active roles in promoting ethical behaviours as well.

“We must also seek new ways of fostering active and engaged civil society that can hold governments at all levels accountable.

“if we must win the war on corruption, we must also improve on our financial transparency rating by promoting responsible business practices, and strict enforcement of anti-corruption procedures in both public and private sectors.”