The Honourable Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has said that National Anti-Corruption Strategy (2017-2018) would serve as a guideline and working tool for all stakeholders.
In a press statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, Comrade Salihu Othman Isah, Special Adviser to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN disclosed that he stated this at the Maiden Annual Forum of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) on Monday in Abuja.
According to him, it would assist stakeholders to develop their own strategy with specifications on how best to actualize the full implementation of National Anti-Corruption Strategy.
The Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Mr. Dayo Apata in the keynote speech he delivered on behalf of the AGF, noted that one of the mandates of NACS is to ensure full implementation.
He reiterated that cooperation and collaboration of all stakeholders, civil society organizations and members of the public is needed for a successful implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy.
He equally charged the Attorneys–General of the States to key into scaling down process by way of activating the adoption and domestication of the NACS at the sub-national levels.
‘’Following the validation and adoption of the NACS and the subsequent approval by the Federal Executive Council, an Action Plan for implementation of the NACS was developed, validated and adopted by relevant stakeholders”, he revealed.
Malami further explained that the Monitory and Evaluation Committee was constituted and inaugurated, adding that a Framework for the Monitoring and Evaluation work tool and Reporting Template was also developed and adopted by stakeholders.
On his part, the SGF represented by Director, Legal Drafting Department, Mr. Hamza A. Tahir in his opening remarks, disclosed that the purpose of the forum is for the AGF to launch and present the National Anti-Corruption Strategy to the public and equally create and exchange ideas on the successful implementation of the NACS.
He added that the theme: Enhancing the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy was carefully chosen so as to ensure focus at the Forum.
Apata expressed gratitude to AGF and all the stakeholders for their support in the implementation of the NACS, urging the stakeholders and Nigerians never to relent in the fight against corruption because the battle requires perseverance.
The panelist at the forum were: Special Adviser to the President on Justice Reforms who doubles as Coordinator, Open Government Partnership in Nigeria, Mrs. Juilet Ibekaku Nwagwu, who lead the discussions, the Executive Director Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, Reverend David Ugolor, Mr Gandu Andrwe Maggi of the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation/ President M&E NACS Implementation and the Director, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Francis Usani and the UNODC Country Representative, Oliver Stolpe.
They spoke extensively on the most effective way to ensure the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy in order to reduce corruption to the barest minimum. However it was emphasized that prosecutors need to be protected and that Public Private Ownership is key in the implementation of NACS and robust reward system should be put in place.
Also present at the forum are Attorneys-General of the States from Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Katsina, Imo, Gombe and Enugu, MDAs, stakeholders and civil society organizations from Federal and state levels.
