Corruption is to blame for Nigeria’s healthcare and education systems, according to Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas.
Abbas made this statement while speaking at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Monday in honour of International Anti-Corruption Day.
Since the October 31, 2003, ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, December 9 has been designated as International Anti-Corruption Day in an effort to increase public awareness of the issue.
In the keynote speech, Abbas pointed out that corruption will be a significant barrier to the country’s overall development if it is not stopped.
Abbas, through House Deputy Chief Whip George Ozodinobi, urged lawmakers to employ their three-pronged roles of representation, supervision, and lawmaking to combat corruption for the sake of the Nigerian people.
“Corruption seriously impedes Nigeria’s progress,” he remarked. It squanders funds that could be used for healthcare, education, employment creation, and infrastructure development. Corrupt activities cost billions of dollars every year, denying communities essential services and sustaining inequality and poverty. By fostering injustices that further marginalise the most disadvantaged, it weakens the social fabric. The way corruption undermines public institutions, resulting in widespread disenchantment and a weakened social contract between the governed and the government, is equally concerning.”
He reminded his colleagues that parliaments are essential to the battle against corruption.
Parliaments guarantee that governance is carried out transparently and in the best interests of the people by passing legislation, closely monitoring public institutions, and holding the executive branch responsible.
“In addition, parliament is the voice of the people demanding accountability as the custodian of the people’s trust, so our legislative functions are essential to fighting corruption and reviving public trust in governance,” he continued.
He said that by enacting laws targeted at accountability and institutional change, the National Assembly had achieved great progress against corruption.
“We have enacted important legislation like the Proceeds of Crime Act, which guarantees the efficient recovery and administration of assets obtained via corrupt means, and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit Act, which improves our ability to monitor illicit financial movements.
“The Companies and Allied Matters Act amendment is another historic reform that improves corporate governance transparency and reduces opportunities for corruption in the private sector,” he said.
According to Kayode Akiolu, Chairman of the Committee on Anti-Corruption, who spoke on the theme of “Uniting the youth against corruption: Shaping tomorrow’s integrity,” corruption erodes the values of justice, fairness, and the common good. It can take many different forms, such as power abuse, nepotism, favouritism, and a disregard for moral leadership.
“The social fabric is undermined, economic progress is slowed, and the trust of the people is betrayed when public officials disregard their obligation to serve the people in favour of self-interest.”
