LAGOS – Mr. Ekpo Nta, Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has called for an effective budgetary system and control in local government councils.
Nta made the call in Lagos at a media roundtable on “Approaches/Strategies for Combating Impunity in Local Governments: The Role of the ICPC and EFCC.’’
Nta, represented by Mr. Kayode Adebayo, ICPC Head of Investigative Unit, said effective budgetary system would curb wastage, mismanagement and corruption.
According to him, corruption has been identified as the cause of the failure of most governments to actualise their policies and programmes.
He said investigations carried out by the commission in some local government councils revealed issues bordering on total lack of accountability and transparency.
“The effects of corruption at the local government level are systemic failures leading to total collapse of the primary functions of the government.
“That is why we need to tackle corruption, especially at the local government level. However, the fight against corruption cannot be waged by institutions like ICPC alone.
“We need the support of the general public, especially from Civil Society Organisations (CSOs),’’ Nta said.
Mr. Joseph Amenaghawon, OSIWA Programme Officer, said the majority of Nigerians were not concerned about the lack of transparency at the local government level.
“I am happy that President Muhammad Buhari, in his inaugural speech, identified the fact that local governments were critical to the quest of fighting corruption in Nigeria,’’ Amenaghawon said.
He called for the protection of whistle blowers to encourage people to report corrupt practices to the statutory institutions for investigation.
Mr. Adeshina Fagbenro, the South West Coordinator, Department of International Development (DFID), said Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies should be preemptive in tackling the scourge.
Fagbenro urged ICPC to strengthen its Accountability and Transparency Unit, which is statutorily domiciled in all ministries, departments and agencies of government.
Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, SERAP Executive Director, lauded Buhari for expressing commitment to monitor and address corruption at the local government level.
According to Mumuni, the roundtable is aimed at proffering strategies on how corruption could be tackled at the third-tier of government to fast track Nigeria’s economic development.
The roundtable was organised by anti-corruption groups, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).