By Abdullahi Alhassan Kaduna
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has lamented the pervasive impact of corruption on Nigeria's developmental sectors, calling for urgent attention to address this menace. According to CISLAC's Executive Director, Mallam Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani, corruption has become a systemic issue, plaguing every sector of Nigeria's socio-economic and political landscape.
Corruption, Rafsanjani noted, has severely undermined Nigeria's fight against insurgency and insecurity, diverting critical funds meant to bolster national defense into private hands. To combat this, CISLAC has proposed several solutions.
Firstly, CISLAC advocates for the strengthening of institutional frameworks and autonomy. This involves reforming the judiciary and key anti-corruption agencies, such as the EFCC, ICPC, and CCB, to ensure their independence from political interference.
Additionally, CISLAC recommends comprehensive electoral reforms and monitoring. This includes enforcing transparency in political campaign financing, implementing strong penalties for vote-buying and electoral malpractices, and compelling political parties to uphold internal democracy.
To revitalize the education sector, CISLAC suggests increasing investment in teacher training, school infrastructure, and student welfare. Addressing the issue of out-of-school children, reforming the university admission process, and combating "sextortion" in academic institutions are also crucial.
Furthermore, CISLAC advocates for boosting healthcare funding and addressing the IDP crisis. This involves allocating at least 15% of the national budget to healthcare, improving the doctor-to-patient ratio, and developing healthcare infrastructure to cater to vulnerable populations.
Other recommendations include enforcing transparency in public procurement and constituency projects, combating economic and financial crime in the banking sector, and promoting civic engagement, protecting public spaces, and strengthening anti-corruption legislation.
Ultimately, CISLAC emphasizes that implementing these reforms will require concerted efforts from both the government and civil society to ensure that the benefits of Nigeria's wealth are equitably shared.
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