The chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Professor Bolaji Owasanoye (SAN) has explained that the absence of adequate sanctions for offenders and proper reward mechanisms for ‘clean people’ is the biggest reasons why the fight against corruption in Nigeria has been difficult.
Owasanoye made this revelation at a one-day stakeholder’s zonal dialogue on the implementation of the National Ethics and Integrity Policy, South-South edition which was held in Benin City, Edo State capital.
Africa Today News, New York gathered that the event was organised by the ICPC in conjunction with the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
The ICPC boss who was represented by a member of National Ethics and Integrity Policy Board, Dr. Grace Chinda, said the country does not lack laws and policies aimed at curbing corruption and indiscipline but lacks the implementation and effective enforcement, based on well designed and implementable procedure.
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According to him; ‘Nigeria is never lacking In-laws and policies aimed at curbing corruption and indiscipline, perhaps, the problem is implementation and effective enforcement, based on well designed and implementable Standard Operational Procedure(SOP).
‘For government policies to succeed, they must be people-driven and not government-driven. This is the difference between the National Ethics and Integrity Policy and previous similar policies that have gone moribund and obsolete.’
He said the National Ethics and Integrity Policy contains features such as consequences management and implementation templates, and that the dialogue will take place across the country, on a zonal basis involving segments of the society, especially the youth.
In his speech, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Dr Garba Abari, represented by the State Director, Mrs Grace Ewere-Eseka, said, the National Orientation Agency(NOA) will continue to work with ICPC so that the vision to rejuvenate and resuscitate our good moral values of yesteryears will be achieved. He encouraged the citizenry to own and drive the implementation of the policy in the country.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK