The Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) has judged President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to be successful in its fight against corruption in the country over the past eight years.

Speaking at a media parley in Lagos on Wednesday 8th March, the Chairman of the PACAC Professor Itsey Sagay SAN, analysed the endemic nature of corruption in Nigeria, noting that the President has been intense about its promise to Nigerians in combating corruption in all sectors of the country.

Prof Itse Sagay

He further stated that despite lots of restraints, the Buhari administration has prosecuted corrupt entities in the federal agencies, ministries, and departments without favouritism.”There is no gainsaying that corruption, in all its ramifications, has been the bane of Nigeria. Corruption has hindered the average citizen from getting a decent life. It has caused retrogression in all facets of our national life. While a few members of the elite control unimaginable wealth derived from corruption, the vast majority of Nigerian wallow in poverty.

“Therefore, the fight against corruption as a major objective of the Buhari Administration is a noble cause that must be continued. From 2015 to date, the Federal Government through the instrumentalities of its state agencies has done a lot to defeat corruption and the corrupt elements. The fight against corruption led to numerous prosecutions and convictions. A lot of property has been forfeited by looters. Monies in both local and foreign currencies are being recovered. Clearly, many government agencies are coming back to life, and the citizens are enjoying good services.

“Accordingly, more sustained efforts are required in fighting corruption and the liberation of the resources of the nation from the greed of the tiny elite. The success realized today in Nigeria arose because fighting corruption was brought into the governance mix. As we urge our frontline Anti-corruption Agencies to continue their good work, we urge citizens to support them and all our law enforcement agencies for a better Nigeria”, he said.

Highlighting some of the records of the achievement by the Buhari administration, Professor Sagay explained the unprecedented efforts of the federal government which yielded some obvious results in economic growth and transparency in all parastatals.

He further explained that the current government has recorded the highest number of convictions of corrupt people and that has improved the country’s trust and image in the international community.

“Phenomenally the highest rate and quantity of looted assets recovered. By far the highest rate of any number of convictions Introduction of technology into the fight BVN, TSA, IPPIS, Whistleblowing Vigorous intervention to stop the P & ID colossal fraud of $9 billion among others

“This level of intervention in the fight against corruption is unprecedented. This Government has broken new grounds and records in the fight against corruption. This needs to be acknowledged and appreciated”, he concluded.

INEC Too Overburden To Monitor

Speaking on the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to monitor financial expenditures of political parties during the electioneering activities, the PACAC chairman stated that the electoral commission has failed to perform its legal duties due to the other activities attached to it.

The Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption chairman also added that INEC has been overburdened with electoral activities which has prevented it from prosecuting political parties who are spending beyond its limits. He further called for the reform of the electoral laws and legislations, which will give other agencies the right to prosecute erring politicians.

“I think INEC is overburdened to perform the prosecutory role on how politicians are spending during campaigns and that’s why it has failed the duty. We can only call for reform in the electoral legislations, so that politicians will not be going Scot free after breaking the law.

It is not easy for INEC to conduct the elections and other off-cycle elections and in the middle of it prosecute erring politicians. There is a need for the delegation of that duty to other agencies”