FG Commits To Support Fight Against Corruption

By Georgina Humphrey

Federal Government has reteirated commitment to support the rule of law and fight against anti- corruption.

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi stated this at the presentation of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption program, RoLAC phase 2 in Abuja.

Fagbemi explained that the outcomes captured under the program will further bridge the gap in Criminal Justice and Administrative Reform and as well as enhance systems and structures in the Justice sector.

Fagbemi who was Represented by the Director of Planning Research, and Statistics in the Ministry, Victoria Ojogbane, commended the leadership of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC II) Programme for their robust interface and quality programs targeted at nation-building.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, commended RoLAC Programme for their robust interface and quality programs targeted at nation-building.

On her part, the European Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Samuela Isopi explained that RoLAC was aimed at strengthening the rule of law and fight against corruption as well as reducing gender-based violence by promoting respect for human rights and ensuring inclusivity for all citizens.

According to Isopi, the European Union has spent eighty-eight million euros to support Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts since 2005, and another thirty million euros to improve the Rule of Law, tackle corruption, and reduce gender-based violence in the country for the next five years.

She stressed that thirty-five states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have so far domesticated the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015 to curb incessant cases of violence across states.

The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS who further explained that
One point five million Nigerians were affected in the first phase of the program added that the second phase which will run for five years, would be implemented in Adamawa, Anambra, Edo, Kano, Lagos, and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, with the possibility of extension to two other states.

In his remarks, the Head of the Programme, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, IDEA, Danladi Plang said the overall objective of the RoLAC Phase II is the consolidation of the rule of law and anti-corruption reforms in Nigeria.

In his message, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, noted that RoLAC Phase Il “identifies with the vision of the National Development Plan 2021-2025 for promotion of full participation of women in the economy as a strategy to substantially improve socio-economic indicators such as GDP growth, employment generation, and poverty reduction”.

Represented by Dr Lanre Adekanye, the Minister noted that the implementation of Phase Il is expected to have a robust coordination structure involving the Justice and Anti-corruption institutions, to increase their participation in the development and management of the anti-corruption and justice reform agenda.

Edited By Grace Namiji