By Dwelleth Morountodun
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)/Transparency International (TI-Nigeria) in collaboration with Transparency International – Defence and Security Program with support from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, on Wednesday concluded a high impact capacity development for members of the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on defence and security, financial management, gender and operational disparities.
Speaking at the one day training programme, which held at Rosmohr Hotel in Akwa Ibom State, Messrs. Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani, of CISLAC), Edem Peace of AKGCODA and Ndifreke Patrick of GTI, averred that the overarching import of the capacity building was aimed at strengthening the capacity of CSOs to advocate and conduct state and national engagements towards an accountable, responsive, and efficient management of the Nigeria Defence and Security sector.
Dr. Harry Udoh, drilled the participants on: Defence Sector Budget and Security Provisioning in Nigeria: The Imperative of Civil Society Engagement in Promoting Transparency and Reducing Corruption.
After an exhaustive brainstorming session on various thematic sessions at the dialogue some pertinent observations and recommendations emerged: That Corruption and financial mismanagement in the defence and security were driven by high value contracts, high level information secrecy, political connections, complex/technical procurements procedures and exploitation of the hierarchical nature of the military, while 62% of 86 countries of the world assessed in Transparency International 2020 Government Defence Integrity Index (GDI) were at high risk of Defence and Security Corruption, Nigeria rated ‘E’ with range scores of 32-17, indicating very weak safeguards against corruption.
They also observed that corruption and financial mismanagement in the defence budget and Security provisioning in Nigeria manifest in procurement, asset sales, budgetary process, salary theft, and illicit use of military intelligence and comprehensive defence procurement process takes into consideration, needs identification and planning; acquisition strategy and solicitation; proposal evaluation and contract award, contract administration and performance monitoring and contract closeout and evaluation among others.
On the way forward, the participants recommended: Embracing effective reforms of the defence budget and security provisioning through improved institutions, public financial management, systems, and controls.
Strengthening external oversight independence and mechanisms on the defence budget and security provisioning, taking into cognisance comprehensive regulatory framework, regular audit and review, whistle-blower protection and active CSOs demand for transparency and accountability in the defence and security sector through continuous engagements in budgetary provisioning and procurement activities.
Full integration of computerised documentation, payment and payroll systems in the Defence and Security sector to enhance transparency, accountability and external oversight, adequate amendment and harmonization of the relevant provisions in Freedom of Information Act including Section 11(1) and Official Secret Act, to remove contradictory provisions hampering civilian oversight of the defence and Security sector, while enhancing transparency and accountability in procurement process.
The others include: Legislative re-presentation and passage as well as Presidential assent into the Whistle-blower protection bill, to support information disclosure for efficient external oversight of the defence and security sector, identifying and dismantling the systemic corruption networks within the defence and Security sector through deliberate structural changes and targeted efforts to root out individuals involved in corrupt practices, adequate provision of financial resources for the implementation of anti-corruption reforms and strengthen oversight mechanisms.
Maintaining bilateral partnerships with successful nations in the defence budget and Security provisioning to explore joint initiatives for enhanced standards and best practice in Nigeria and strengthening financial controls and accountability mechanisms in the defence and Security sector through implementation of stricter approval processes for expenditures, enhancing financial reporting systems, and conducting regular financial audits, to prevent misuse of funds and ensure effective budget management among others.
According to the statement made available to the media, the signatories also averred that: Operational and procurement activities of the Nigeria’s defence and security sector are most susceptible to corruption, mismanagement, deliberate secrecy and needless complexity, that financial mismanagement in the defence and security sector weakens the capabilities of the armed forces, diminishes the effectiveness of law enforcement; and creates vulnerabilities that can be exploited by both internal and external threats.
They observed that: “Contradictory provisions in the existing laws including Official Secret Act, LFN 2004, and Freedom of Information Act, constitutes a major enabler for secrecies and non-disclosures identified in the defence budget and Security budget provisioning.
“Efforts at implementing anti-corruption reforms in Nigeria’s defence and Security sector encounter significant resistance from entrenched corruption networks deeply rooted within the institutions.”