Bukola Afeni
In a bid to bolster accountability and efficiency within Nigeria’s Defence and Security sector, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Transparency International – Nigeria (TI-Nigeria), in collaboration with Transparency International’s Defence and Security Programme, recently organized a two-day anti-corruption training.
The Executive Director of CISLAC/TI-Nigeria, Auwal Ibrahim Rafsanjani highlighted the need to combat corruption and ensure effective management of defence sector.
He added that oversight of the sector is crucial to preventing fraud and abuse while promoting transparency and efficiency.
“External oversight aids in identifying misconduct and corruption, ensuring professionalism and adherence to standards.
Weak democratic practices and fear of military intervention impede external oversight efforts”, he said.
The group noted that Challenges such as poor welfare, corruption, and inadequate training hinder operational efficiency.
“Corruption within the Defence and Security sector undermines national security and operational effectiveness.
Over-classification of budget items and procurement information hampers external oversight”, he said.
The participants also noted that critical issues such as financial management, gender disparities, and operational inefficiencies plaguing the defence and security sector should be addressed.
“We need to implement reforms to minimize corruption risks across procurement, operations, and personnel activities. We need to utilize Government Defence Anti-Corruption Index for evidence-based advocacy.”
In addition, they also advocated for legislative amendments to enhance transparency and accountability.
