The Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption has advocated the naming and shaming of corrupt persons as a potent instrument in the fight against corruption even as they would continue to engage judges and magistrates to ensure quick dispensation of corruption cases.
Chairman, Prof. Itse Sagay led other members of the committee on a courtesy visit to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. Prof. Sagay described as rubbish, remarks in some quarters that the issue of corruption was being over-flogged by the present administration; pointing out that nothing should be left to chance in the fight against corrupt practices.
“See the amount of suffering that is going on in this country, the number of people that have died; in the civil service, see what is happening; salaries cannot be paid in most places. Do you know the effect on those families; ambitions which our children had to reach the heights but they can’t achieve it. There is unemployment everywhere, all edifices are crumbling; the country is down and you say corruption is over-flogged. It has not been over-flogged,” he stated.
The committee appealed to the minister to mobilise the media agencies under the ministry to join in the struggle against corruption. Sagay also disclosed that they had continually engaged judges and magistrates to make them appreciate their critical role in fight against corruption as spelt out in Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
The minister said government will continue to fight corruption within the rule of law, adding that they will not relent, especially as the fight has gained momentum among Nigerians and attracted global support.
He expressed worry that corrupt Nigerians were “better funded, better coordinated and better organized,” and were already fighting back.
According to him, many people were afraid to speak out against corruption either because they had benefitted from corruption before or were merely afraid of perpetrators of corruption.
While charging the committee to speak out and give the alternative narrative on corruption, the minister added: “We have no doubt that you will continue to advise the administration on the prosecution of the war against corruption and the implementation of required reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.”
Vanguard.
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