A recent workshop organized by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has highlighted the urgent need for improved oversight and information disclosure in Nigeria’s Defence and Security Sector.
The workshop was held in collaboration with Transparency International—Defence and Security Program and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.
According to CISLAC, the state has an obligation to ensure the safety of lives and property in Nigeria since it is the result of a social contract between the government and the people.
The civic organisation said that the absence of openness and accountability in the Defence and Security sectors, enabled by high-value contracts, secrecy, and political connections, poses a threat to this obligation.
The workshop, led by Dr Sunday Edejoh and Prof. Sharkdam Wapmuk, determined that appropriate monitoring of the Nigerian defence sector is now hampered by deliberate information blocking, the use of ambiguous terminologies, and the complexity of the procurement system.
“Efficient oversight in the Defence and Security sector is necessitated by the need to checkmate misconduct and indiscipline, misappropriation and mismanagement, corruption, maintain standards and professionalism and sustain democratic principles of Civil-Military Relations,” the group said in a communique issued on Thursday.
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The workshop further urged the government, legislature, anti-graft agencies, human rights institutions, civil society groups, judicial institutions, and the media to work together to provide effective oversight in the Defence and Security Sector.
Based on their findings, workshop participants proposed 16 recommendations for improving transparency and accountability in defence procurement activities.
Participants argued for increased oversight capacity across relevant institutions in procurement, finance, and personnel management to improve accountability and responsibility in the Defence and Security sector.
The workshop further pressed for suitable modifications to key provisions in the Freedom of Information Act, Criminal Code Act, and Public Procurement Act to address inconsistent lines that contribute to corruption in procurement.
“Emphasising public merit-based personnel management, regular audit and reviews, institutional strengthening, public awareness and involvement in the Defence and Security procurement oversight to restore systemic transparency, accountability as well as public trust,” the communique read in part.
The workshop also called for enhanced resource allocation to oversight institutions in order to improve their operational efficiency and effectiveness.
Finally, they suggested capacity training for members of key National Assembly committees in order to ensure active involvement and efficient oversight of MDAs, with the assistance of technical experts and professionals.
