Strengthen Kano Anti-Graft Agency To Fight Corruption – UNODC Tells Ganduje

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)  has urged  Kano state government to strengthen the state Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission in the fight against corruption.

The Country Representative of UNODC, Dr Oliver Stolpe, stated this at a Stakeholders’ Meeting on Gender and Corruption on Second Corruption Survey Report in Nigeria, held in Kano.

He also called for continued support for the Commission by the state government, which he assured that, would aid development and its sustainability. “We should all understand that strengthening institutions is also key in this herculean task ahead of all of us.’’

He noted that the fighting corruption at the state level to compliment the federal government drive would Bolden confidence of investors and enhance good governance.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Abba Anwar on Saturday.

Dr Stolpe expressed happiness over the performance of the state Anti-Corruption Commission in its activities towards fighting corruption noting that the feat was largely achieved because of the interest and political will the state Governor has in the activities of the Commission, coupled with the good leadership of the anti-graft body.

Solacebase reports that the program was co-hosted by the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, taking the lead from the state angle, and the State Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Development, together with other stakeholders such as United Nations Entity for Gender Equity and the Empowerment of Women (UN-WOMEN), National Council for Women Societies in Nigeria (NCWS), UKaid, UNODC among others.

The statement said Governor Ganduje reveals that, it was a source of joy and pride to the state “…to have very functional Anti-Corruption Agency, second to none in the list of any state government-owned similar body, if at all they exist.”

“Our Anti-Corruption Commission is not only active, but it has non-interference from the state. A serving Commissioner was sacked because of the activities of this Commission. Not only that, there was a Permanent Secretary who also lost his position because of the activities of this anti-graft body. So also other officials like Directors, all fell victims of the Commission’s investigations,” said Ganduje in the statement.

According to the statement, he urged the United Nations and other development partners to assist the state anti-graft agency in capacity building, the use of ICT and furthermore creating a good atmosphere for more effective and efficient fight against corruption.

He added, “This approach that is women-centred is apt and timely. Why because, it is perceived that women are more honest than men. And with the increasing dynamic nature of our societies, women can play some critical roles in this fight against corruption also.”

Part of the purpose of the meeting, according to the Meeting’s Concept Note, was to “…familiarize stakeholders with data, dissemination, popularise and promote better analysis and understanding of the content of the Report and strengthen actions towards the prevention of gender-corruption in Nigeria through advocacy.”

The meeting had in attendance Commissioners of Women Affairs from all the 36 states including the Federal Capital, Abuja, gender-based groups and civil society organisations and National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), among others.