Nigeria’s Anti-graft Agency, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) joined other anti-corruption agencies to mark the 2023 African Union (AU) Anti-Corruption Day on Tuesday.
The African Union Anti-Corruption Day is commemorated annually on the 11th of July as designated by African Union via the adoption of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC).
This is in recognition of the vast progress in the war against corruption on the African continent and the need to reflect on the approaches to end the vice.
Awareness Of Members
In a message to commemorate the day, the ICPC Chairman Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, observed that, AUCPCC has, to a very good extent, improved the awareness of member states on the need to put corruption on the front burner of development agenda.
He stated that Nigeria is globally recognised as a leader in robust anti-corruption legislation and institutions and the ICPC despite, being the first dedicated anti-corruption institution in Nigeria.
Owasanoye noted that, ICPC has aligned with the provisions of UNCAC and the AUCPCC in both its functions and the three-pronged mandate of enforcement, prevention, and public education and enlightenment.
“However, challenges remain. There is a need to initiate and sustain international cooperation that aligns with the concept of the Convention. Also, member states are yet to establish and capacitate anti-corruption institutions to bring them at par with the commitments that member states made upon accession to the Convention, ” he stated.
Progressive commitment
The Head of the Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-corruption Reforms (TUGAR) Mrs. Jane Onwumere, and the head of the Secretariat of the Inter-Agency Task Team of Anti-Corruption Agencies, explained that this year 2023 marked two decades of the implementation of the AUCPCC and that Nigeria has since shown progressive commitment to the fight against corruption by making sure that the treaty obligations were fulfilled.
Global community
Also speaking, the Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Dr. Oliver Stolpe described this year’s event as a very important one “as we commemorate the 20th anniversary of the AUCPCC same year as we are commemorating the 20 years anniversary of the UNCAC.”
He said, the African continent and Nigeria in particular led many reforms the global community is benefiting in terms of the anti-corruption strategies that was established.
Demonstrate their support
Also, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu represented by Brigadier General Adamu Laka, expressed his gratitude to the anti-corruption agencies, Civil Society Organisations and their partners in the fight against corruption for demonstrating their support to Nigeria and Africa in the efforts to rid the continent of corruption.
The Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba in her message remarked that the AU Anti-Corruption Day was set aside to raise awareness on the negative impact of corruption on African Continent, stating that corruption has continued to hinder the achievements of the sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The theme for this year’s commemoration “African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC) 20 Years After: Achievements and Prospects”.
It focuses on strategies, mechanisms and initiatives put in place to curb corruption to the barest minimum.
Lateefah Ibrahim
