By Lucky Isibor
The Executive Director of the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Rev. David Ugolor has described corruption as the major impediment to Nigeria’s growth and development, noting that it is responsible for the nation’s economic woes, just as it undermines public service delivery and erode citizens’ trust in governance.
Ugolor made the observation in his welcome address at the Mid- term review meeting of the Civil Society Advocacy to Strengthen Anti-corruption Reforms in Nigeria (CASARN) project and validation of the draft research report titled: “Assessment of the Management Framework and Effectiveness of Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units (ACTUs) in Promoting Transparency Across Federal Ministries Departments Agencies (MDAs) in Nigeria” held in Benin City on Thursday, 8 May.
Ugolor who was represented by ANEEJ Deputy Executive Director, Comrade Leo Atakpu pointed out that successive Nigeria government have recognised this challenge and over the years initiated reforms aimed at combating corruption, adding that the CASARN project is building upon these efforts.
The CASARN project is implemented by ANEEJ as part of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC II) Programme, which is being led by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) with funding support from the European Union (EU).
While enumerating the aims of the project, Ugolor pointed out that CASARN will also focus on strengthening anti-corruption reforms by assessing the management framework and effectiveness of Anti-corruption and Transparency Units (ACTUs) in federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), promoting their compliance with the Nigeria Open Contracting Portal (NOCOPO) and advocating for the passage of the whistleblower protection bill, and advancing anti-corruption efforts at the sub-national level.
“It is common knowledge that corruption remains a major impediment to Nigeria’s growth and development. Its adverse impact is widespread — undermining economic progress, public service delivery, and citizens’ trust in governance. Over the years, successive governments have recognised this challenge, and initiated reforms aimed at combating corruption. The CASARN project builds upon these efforts.
“In Edo State, the project targets critical transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption reforms initiated under the first phase of the RoLAC programme. At the national level, the project focuses on enhancing the management framework for ACTUs to revitalise and support the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), advocate for the passage of the whistleblower protection bill, and strengthen compliance with procurement data publication requirements under NOCOPO.
“Today’s meeting is a significant milestone in our collective effort to overcome corruption through strategic civil society advocacy, effective institutional engagement, and cross-sector partnerships. Through CASARN, we are working hand in hand with government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, civil society organisations, and the media to promote critical reforms and empower citizens to hold public officials accountable. Our efforts are rooted in prevention, and we believe that sustained collaboration among stakeholders — including government actors, NGOs, faith-based organisations, the media, and local communities — is essential for building a transparent and accountable Nigeria.
“Today’s meeting will allow us to reflect on our progress over the past eight months, evaluate project implementation, share challenges and lessons learned, and validate the draft ACTUs assessment report”.
While sharing the achievements of the CASARN project thus far since its inception in September, 2024, Ugolor urged participants to feed the organisation back as they engage them in discussion that will shape the future direction of CASARN and expressed appreciation to the European Union and International IDEA for their financial and technical support.
“Your honest feedback and contributions will be instrumental in refining the report and aligning the project with its overall objectives. We look forward to engaging discussions that will shape the future direction of CASARN, but most importantly advance our collective efforts at combating corruption.
“Since inception, the project has successfully carried out a number of activities with the participation of many of you present here today. These activities include the inception meeting; a dialogue with Edo State governorship candidates to secure commitments on implementing transparency reforms; assessment of the management framework and effectiveness of ACTUs; a study on federal MDAs’ compliance with NOCOPO and SGF’s circulars; weekly TV appearances to promote public awareness on anti-corruption; and the presentation of the draft ACTU report and today’s validation session.We are pleased to share some of the early achievements of the project. We secured public commitments from governorship candidates and political parties in Edo State to promote transparency, block financial leakages, and ensure inclusive governance. We completed a comprehensive assessment of ACTUs across federal MDAs and initiated a study on compliance with NOCOPO, both of which will inform policy briefs for future advocacy work”.
In a goodwill message, representative of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Mr Kupolati Kayode stated that the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units ACTUs were put in place in the various MDAs at the federal level on the request of ICPC as part of efforts in enlisting their support in the war against corruption as the commission cannot fight corruption all alone.
The ICPC representative pointed out that ACTUs assist ICPC in giving updates on integrity and accountability in public institutions and that they perform all the functions of ICPC in their MDAs except that of prosecution.
According to Kupolati, ACTUs “Investigate complaints brought by staff of their MDA, certify staff of their MDAs on issues bordering on corruption, develop code of ethics for staff of MDA; monitor budget implementation which will be a follow up from the stage of presentation and throughout the process of implementation of the budget and carry out reward system for role model MDAs”.
In a remark, the ACTU chairperson in the Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mrs. Elizabeth Ntekim noted that the war against corruption is a collective one and urged everyone to
fight corruption wherever they find themselves.
Mrs.Ntekim urged ACTUs chairpersons in the various MDAs to understand their Chief Executive Officers to be able to navigate through and avoid conflict as they’re also members of staff under the supervision of the Chief Executive.
While contributing, the secretary of Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO), Comrade Osazee Edigin called on Civil Society actors to test the recent Supreme Court judgement on the applicability of the Freedom of Information Act (FoI Act) across the various states.
After extensive deliberations on the research work titled “Assessment of the Management Framework and Effectiveness of Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units (ACTUs) in Promoting Transparency Across Federal Ministries Departments Agencies (MDAs) in Nigeria”, and progress report on the CASARN project, participants validated the report of the research and urged ANEEJ to input the suggestions that were agreed on after deliberations.