Reunion Wire

A coalition of 30 Anti-corruption Civil Society Organisations have called on President Bola Tinubu to revive anti-corruption fight in the country and reel out agenda to curb its spread.

Spokesperson for the group, Mr Auwal Rafsanjani, who is also the Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), made the call on Tuesday in Abuja.

Rafsanjani said that the nation had been plagued with corrupt practices manifesting in different forms for many years and these has resulted in slowness in the judicial process.

He listed low reporting of corrupt practices by citizens due to mistrust in the system, lack of whistle blower and witness protection law to protect whistle-blowers, underfunding of anti-graft agencies and non-adherence to laws as part of corruption.

He said that the absence of political will at the highest level of government and the lack of implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, political corruption among others as other causes of corruption.

He, therefore, said the group made some recommendations like the Federal Government should pass the Whistle-blower and Witness Protection Bill into law.

The recommendation according to him, also include full implementation of the National Strategy on anti-corruption and the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 across all the states of the Federation including the FCT.

“Compulsory capacity building exercise for staff of public institutions on the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022 and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 2011.

“Effective monitoring and implementation of the Beneficial Ownership register in full compliance with the provisions of CAMA for improved transparency and accountability in public procurement processes.

“Effective implementation of the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022, Fiscal Responsibility Act, the Money Laundering and Prohibition Act, 2022 and OGP NAP III.”

Rafsanjani called for improved funding for ICPC and Code of Conduct Bureau as well as review by the National Assembly of the provisions of the Acts establishing the ICPC, EFCC and Code of Conduct Bureau regarding the mode of appointment of the Chairman and other key laws used to prosecute cases .

He said that these would also result in increased number of convictions of politically exposed persons (PEP) by the EFCC and ICPC.

“In amending the enabling Acts of the anti- corruption agencies, we suggest security of tenure for heads of these agencies.

“Investigation of all public officers and politically exposed persons (PEP) named in the Pandora papers, Panama Papers, Paradise Papers, Genko scandal and FinCEN Files.

“While those found guilty be made to face the full wrath of the law as a deterrent to others,” he said.

He also called for reform of financial institutions such as CBN and commercial banks, FIRS, Nigerian Ports Authority and Maritime sector. These have become money laundering gateways.

Rafsanjani said that there was the need to take concrete steps to foster great judicial independence by institutionalisng real financial autonomy for the judiciary.

He said this currently depended on disbursements that were often delayed by the executive.

He said the group demanded that anti-corruption and security agencies demonstrated greater transparency with regards to their budgets and expenditures, developing strategic capacity-building spending plans.

He urged the government to prioritise the need to ensure that information and data in the oil and gas sector was provided.

He called for the need to engage state government to align with all anti-corruption strategies and initiatives at the federal level and in particular, get all those states that have not domesticated the Freedom of Information Act to do so,

Rafsanjani said that there was need to improve and strengthen the autonomy, independence and institutional capacity of state-level anti-corrupting agencies and create better synergy between them and their counter-parts at the federal level.

“There should be respect for civil space by those in authority. Civil Society Organisations and citizens should have the liberty of expressing themselves regarding issues of governance and well-being of citizens without fear of intimidation or harassment.

“Government should see the role CSOs play as complimentary rather than antagonistic.

“For genuinely confidential procurements in the Defense Sector, we recommend that a separate legal procedure should be designed allowing for monitoring by a confidential Senate Committee.”

Rafsanjani said the group also recommended that the National Assembly should fast tracks the process of reviewing the obsolete current audit act to empower the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation in discharging his duty.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Federal Government on Tuesday in Abuja said it would continue to work towards removing all barriers that inhibit women’s right to access to land.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, said this at a stakeholders dialogue on combating land degradation and gender equality.

The dialogue was part of the activities to commemorate the 2023 World Desertification and Drought Day.

Idris was represented by Ms Mabel Emmanuel, the Director Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought Management, in the ministry.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the theme of 2023 World Desertification and Drought Day is: “Her Land. Her Right: Advancing Gender Equality and Land Restoration Goals”.

“We cannot shy away from the fact that women have unequal and limited access over the control of land. Women hold a vital stake in the health of the land, yet they often don’t have control over land.

“In all parts of the world, women face significant barriers in securing land rights, limiting their ability to thrive and prosper.

“And when land becomes degraded and water is scarce, women are often the worst affected.

“Investing in women’s equal access to land and associated assets is a direct investment in their future and the future of humanity,” Idris said.

He said that the theme aimed at drawing attention to the critical role of gender equality and inclusiveness in tackling land management issues.

He added that similarly, the theme also aimed at “achieving land degradation neutrality and sustainable livelihoods and welfare of the vulnerable groups, especially the women.

“Land degradation is currently one of the world’s most pressing environmental problems and it is expected to worsen especially in Nigeria with increasing population unless remedial action is taken.

“Land degradation affects everyone through food insecurity, higher food prices, climate change, environmental hazards and the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services”, he said.

The permanent secretary said that it was time for women and girls to be at the forefront of global land restoration and drought resilience efforts.

“It is therefore pertinent for us to join the global community to revisit and review our land laws.

“We must find ways to promote women’s access to, use of and control over land and other productive resources because it is essential to ensuring their right to equality and to an adequate standard of living.

“These resources help to ensure that women are able to provide for their day-to-day needs and those of their families, and to weather some of life’s most difficult challenges,” Idris said.

He said that the obstacles which prevent women from effectively enjoying these rights are complex and to a large extent context specific.

“We will not only identify these challenges but we must find ways of addressing them, accurately and timely.

“Women are agents of change and they are drivers of climate change adaptation as well as sustainable development.

“I am very optimistic that today’s dialogue will bring needed solutions to all the issues faced by women in today’s society,” he assured.

Speaking in her capacity, the Director Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought Management said that numerous studies and experiences worldwide have confirmed that gender inequalities must be addressed.

Emmanuel worried that women are often the most affected by drought, land degradation and desertification, notably, land is the most critical economic resource for most rural people.

“Lack of ownership and control over land by women around the world exposes them to poverty, hunger, gender-based violence, and displacement.

“Women are often excluded from land registration and ownership systems, making them vulnerable to eviction and land grabbing.

“In Nigeria and many other countries, women have unequal and limited opportunities to access, own or inherit land in their name,” she said.

The Director Programmes, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Dr Akintunde Babatunde, urged stakeholders to figure how lands can be maximised based on the theme.

“At CJID, what we do is to leverage the tools for Journalism, data and research to see how we can create an environment where the media can create ideas for transformative change.

Babatunde urged that more lands be allocated to the women to increase survival value.

Dr Salisu Dahiru, Director-General of the National Council for Climate Change, said his agency would partner with the Ministry of Environment and other stakeholders on land restoration.

Dahiru said that the need to restore land for prosperity is tied to human survival.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Mrs Olamide Falana, the Special Adviser on Gender to Ondo State Governor, on Tuesday said that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) could be tackled by commitment backed by funding.

Falana stated this at a programme organised by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) in Akure.

The programme is tagged: “Enhancement of the capacity of state institutions for effective implementation of laws to promote inclusion, gender equality and reverse GBV.”

Falana said the state was one of the leading ones in response to GBV with the passage of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law in 2021 and with the establishment of the Ondo State Agency Against Gender-Based Violence (OSAA-GBV).

She also said that the wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, chairing the agency, had ensured the political will required to win the fight against “the GBV monsters”.

“This has helped the state agency to record huge success in raising awareness about GBV across the state, prosecution of suspects and care psychosocial support for the victims,” she said.

Falana, while quoting data available on the dashboard of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs as of June 2023, said,” There are 17,848 reported cases of GBV.

“Seven hundred and seventy nine fatal cases, 1,146 closed cases, 5,716 open cases, and 248 convicted perpetrators while Ondo has 158 reported cases.”

According to her, the data may seem like figures but mirrors the number of persons who have been raped, assaulted and molested.

“Economically suppressed, politically deprived, socially stigmatised, mentally defied and all who carry the scars of the crime against their persons, some may never heal in their lifetime.

“This explains the need for continuous coordination of the state GBV response, with a mantra to leave no one behind in the training of capacity building and awareness creation.

“As we go forward as a state, it is important for the handlers of the sector such as the security operatives and prosecutors to be aware of what they can do in their various commands and agencies, to enhance the collective prevention of GBV.

“Keeping in mind that the fight against GBV cannot be won by words but rather by commitment backed by funding,” he said.

Earlier, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Sir Charles Titiloye, commended the WFD for its support in the awareness and implementation of the law in the state.

Titiloye said Child right and VAPP laws had brought to the barest minimum cases of violence against children and women and the state was gradually being freed of sexual offenses unlike in the past.

“Today, we have a law that has an agency that will enforce it. We have an agency that works with WFD.

“Most states are now adopting our model. We are leading in the fight for equality, we are setting the pace,” he said.

Also, the Country Director of WFD, Mr Adebowale Olorunmola, said the programme had achieved a lot over eight months since it started.

Olorunmola emphasised the need for gender budgeting through lobbying state assemblies to release funding at different stages for the VAPP Law.

Also, the Senior Special Adviser to the governor’s wife, Mrs Temitope Daniya, appreciated WFD for the effort and struggle in the passage of the law.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Stakeholders in the humanitarian sector have pledged continuous support through strengthening access to national services that will empower refugees and persons of concern in the country to live self-reliant lives.

They made the pledge at a programme on Tuesday in Abuja to commemorate the 2023 World Refugee Day with the theme “Hope away from Home’’.

Hajiya lmaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), said the day served as a reminder that no one chose to be a refugee.

“We are developing a significant framework and guidance documents that will forester the provision of durable solutions to refugees and other persons of concern,” Suleiman-Ibrahim said.

“Let us stand together not only in solidarity but on willful determination to foster a world where refugees are not mere survivals but cherished members of our global community.

“Today serves as a powerful reminder that no one chooses to be a refugee; it is the circumstances beyond control that forces them to leave everything behind; their homes, loved ones, families and their familiar surroundings,’’ she said.

Similarly, Ms Chansa Kapaya, the Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to Nigeria, commended Nigeria for continuously keeping its doors and hearts open to people forced to flee their homes.

Kapaya said that currently Nigeria was hosting 95,700 refugees and asylum seekers in addition to the existing over 87,000 Cameroonian refugees hosted in four states in the South-East.

“Violence in Cameroon’s far north has also resulted in a new influx into Adamawa State, where an estimated 20,000 asylum seekers have arrived since mid-last year.

“In responding to the plight of refugees and asylum seekers, Nigeria has cultivated a positive and supportive environment starting with a favourable asylum policy where refugees can move freely

once registered.

“This approach is a testament of the country’s progressive asylum policies and commitment to standing with refugees,” she said.

Kapaya mentioned the cases of Cross River, Taraba, and Benue states, where refugee children stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their Nigerian counterparts.

“They attend the same schools, undertake the same national examinations, and earn the same certifications, ensuring that they are not left behind,” she said.

Another example Kapaya

cited is the Lagos State Employability Trust Fund which has extended its reach to include refugees in their livelihood -enhancing and skills-building programmes.

On his part, the Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, ECOWAS Commission, Dr Sintiki Ugbe said the needs of millions of displaced populations were on the rise compelling them to depend on daily rations for survival.

Represented by Mr Godfrey Alozie of the Commission, Ugbe said this has been made worse by violence, abject poverty, chronic food insecurity, malnutrition, and climate related factors.

He said in giving hope, three areas have been highlighted namely access, to jobs, enrollment in schools and access to services like housing, and healthcare.

“The next is solidarity, for no fault of theirs, they have been displaced away from home. We all need to show them a sense of belonging. We need to welcome them as this will refresh their hopes.

“The third is solutions, we need to provide durable solutions to assist displaced populations particularly refugees,” Ugbe explained.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the World Refugee Day is an international day organised on June 20 every year to celebrate and honour refugees from around the world.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Federal Government with the Support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Tuesday repatriated 102 more Nigerian irregular migrants who were released from detention facilities in Libya.

Amb. Kabiru Musa, Chargé D’Affaires En Titre of the Nigerian Mission in Libya disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the exercise is coming barely twenty-four hours after twenty-one other Nigerian irregular migrants were repatriated by the IOM and the Nigerian Mission in Libya.

Musa said that the evacuees departed Mitiga International Airport Tripoli aboard chartered flight no UZ 189 at 1:00 p.m local time and are expected to arrive Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos same day.

“With the support of the IOM and the Libyan authorities, we have successfully evacuated another batch of stranded Nigerians in Libya after we facilitated their release from detention centers in Libya.

“Among the evacuees are 94 female adults, four male children, and four female children.

“They are being evacuated under the Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation (VHR) progrmme. The exercise further demonstrates the Federal government’s commitment to ensuring that no Nigerian is left stranded abroad.

“I advised the returnees to desist from irregular migration which involves travelling to a foreign country without valid travel documents or visa. It is risky and makes them susceptible to abuses.

“They were also enlightened on the deception of human traffickers who use fake promises to lure them into modern day slavery and sexual exploitation.

“I have also admonished them to become vanguards for the fight against trafficking in persons which is a crime against humanity and a dent to the good image of Nigeria when they return home.

“The federal government is committed to the safe, orderly return of irregular migrants so as not leave them suffer deprivation while in detention. We have to work together with relevant authorities to end the menace of human trafficking and irregular migration,” Musa said.

Musa said that he was glad on the pledges by the returnees never to embark on such perilous journey and to always seek regular pathways for migration in future if it becomes necessary.

The also promised to wage war against the crime when they eventually reunite with their families.

NAN reports that almost 5,000 stranded Nigerians in Libya have been successfully repatriated by the Federal government in collaboration with the IOM under the VHR, from 2021 to date with over 800 evacuated in eight exercises in 2023 alone.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria