A non governmental organisation Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) in collaboration with Transparency International Defence and Security Project (TI-DSP) have decided to review extant laws promoting corruption in the defence and security sector so as to repositioned the sector.
Newsconnect reports that CISLAC while disseminating a policy brief on Financial Management, Gender and Operational disparities in the defence and security sector at a press briefing posited that it is high time we begin to review existing laws that are really enabling lack of transparency and accountability in the defence and security sector.
According to CISLAC in the disseminated policy brief, major drivers of corruption in the defence and security sector include shaddy procurement process; excessive secrecy in procurement process and spending; inter-agency rivalry; inflated procurement and ‘Phantom Contracts; delayed appropriation process; weak over sight activities.
These challenges, over the years have hampered counter-terrorism operations, empowered insurgency and discouraged front-line troops, endangered security of lives and property, threatened democratic Governance mechanisms, limited operational effectiveness, lowered morale and regard for the defence institutions.
CISLAC Project Manager Jimoh Abubakar after the press briefing weighed into the challenges that arose when every item is classified in the defence/security procurement and spending.
Jimoh said;
“When you have every item classified in defence and security procurement and spending, you will give room to lack of transparency and accountability in many things that will enable corruption which will cripple progress in that Sector.
“It will make negative impact on national image. Nigeria is on Band E in governance and integrity index. We are also in band F in some key areas which include Operational activities , financial activities of defense and security sector, procurement activity of defense and security sector.
“When you look at the procurement activity of defence and security sector, it is also shrewded in secrecy. A pen is a secret budget line item in the defence and security sector. You can’t probe it. We are not talking about weapon now. Paper and book.
“We are looking at some of the existing laws in defense and security that are really enabling lack of transparency and accountability in the defense and security sector. We are talking about the Official Secret Act, Procurement Act, The Freedom of information act. It is high time we begin to review the official secret act to feature current Trends and challenges that are emerging across the globe. It is high time we review the FOI act for amendment. It should also feature some of current trend and challenges.
“All these acts exclude defence and security out of interrogation. Without proper amendment , without proper review, we are still going to be having the same challenges we are having now in the defense and security. Investors will be discouraged from coming.
“Financial activity of defence and security sector, The real estate. Commercial interest, commercial venture in the defense and security sector .Arena market in Lagos is owned by Military. At what point do we need to know what goes into this market, what comes out from this market ?
“What goes into this commercial interest?, what comes from this commercial interest. It must be generating loss or profit. It also needs to make it open for proper scrutiny and audit. To ensure that whatever it is getting is subject to scrutiny.
“When activities are scrutinized, they will be published. In nommercial interest, money is being exchanged. It should be also be subjected to tax, because we are talking about profit here.
“The same way FIRS is pursuing other business entity across the country, they should do same with the military defence and security commercial ventures”. He said.
“Accountant General, Auditor general have greater role to play. The National Assembly should empower them to do this proper audit. We need to be looking at the current trend and challenges we are having in Nigeria, very important.
“The law backing them are outdated, let’s look at the current trend and challenges so that the law can be amended in that regard. Feature the current trend for maximum accountability and transparency”. He said