By Victoria Onyisi
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre(CISLAC), (CISLAC -Ti), and stakeholders in Nigeria’s Defence and Security sector has called for strengthening of the recruitment process into the Defence and Security architecture.
A thorough and transparent recruitment emplacemebt they averred will prevent infiltration of unscrupulous elements for better performance, management and overall efficiency of the country’s security sector.
The group made the disclosure at the end of a two day Defence and Security anti- corruption training for CSOs organized by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), (CISLAC-Ti), and Defence and Security Program in Lagos State.
According to them, it is important to strengthen oversight activities across corruption-porous components of Defence and Security, like political, financial, personnel, operational and procurement spheres to prevent mismanagement and sabotage occasioned by entrenched interest.
The participants also took into cognizance that corruption in the sector is fueleed and motivated by high value contracts, secrecy, political connections, and technicalities.
“External oversight of the Defence and Security procurement is a critical and collective responsibility of the National Assembly, Office of the Auditor General of the Federation, Civil Society and the media”.
The participants further called for continuous civil Society advocacy to strengthen oversight activities in the Defence and Security sector for enhanced operational efficiency.
“We need immediate amendment to the relevant provisions in Freedom of Information Act including Section 11(1), to remove contradictory provisions hampering civilian oversight of the Defence and Security sector, while enhancing transparency and accountability in procurement process.
“We also need to maintain a balanced-journalism of Defence and Security reporting to prevent consequences of conflict insensitivity and over-sensationalism.” The group added.