The Federal Government’s resolve to combat corruption at every level was firmly reiterated by the Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, during the Validation Meeting for the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) Action Plan for 2022-2026, held on Friday in Abuja.
Organized by the Ministry of Justice with support from the European Union and the International IDEA through its Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC II) Programme, the event aimed to establish a comprehensive approach to tackling corruption across various sectors.
Mr. Fagbemi emphasized that the NACS would serve as an all-encompassing framework for engaging all stakeholders in the anti-corruption fight, noting the necessity for a revised action plan following the conclusion of the previous NACS from 2017 to 2021.
He explained that extensive consultations involving 22 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) with responsibilities for anti-corruption and accountability had led to the creation of the draft NACS Action Plan now under review.
“The implementation framework centers around five key pillars that will drive efforts in both public and private sectors,” he stated. These pillars include: corruption prevention, public engagement initiatives, ethical reorientation campaigns, enforcement and penalties, alongside the recovery and management of criminal proceeds.
The Minister underscored that executing the Action Plan would bolster the existing legal and institutional frameworks aimed at preventing and addressing corruption.
“Integrating anti-corruption principles into governance and enhancing service delivery, as well as embedding anti-corruption measures into local public administration, are crucial steps forward,” he added.
Additionally, Jane Onwumere, who heads the Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms (TUGAR) within the Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT), highlighted that the 2022-2026 Action Plan would invigorate service delivery across Nigeria.
Ms. Onwumere noted that Nigeria had undergone two review cycles regarding its commitment to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) in 2014 and 2019, respectively.
She acknowledged the challenges faced during the implementation of the previous 2017-2021 Action Plan but also pointed to significant achievements, including the enactment of critical legislation such as the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.
“Progress has also been made in transparency initiatives, such as Beneficial Ownership Disclosures and Open Contracting, alongside routine assessments to identify corruption vulnerabilities,” she noted.
The gathering was attended by heads of various MDAs involved in anti-corruption efforts, as well as representatives from the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and other key stakeholders.
