United Nations (UN) has vowed to continue to work in partnership with the National Assembly, Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption and Civil society leaders among others in the process of recovering stolen public funds and enhance transparency.
The Newly appointed United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP), Resident Representative, Ms. Fatima Samoura revealed this yesterday in Abuja at a media breakfast meeting.
She said within the year: “We shall support the civil society organizations with grants, towards improving the quality of their engagement in the anti-corruption process in the country and in enhancing the transparency of public institutions. This would enhance the success of the on-going war against corruption, increase the rate of recovery of stolen public resources and enhance transparency.”
Fighting corruption, Ms. Samoura said requires strong government wiliness adding that corruption has a lot to do with weak institutions.
Speaking on how to also ensure peace in the country especially in the northern part with the Boko Haram insurgence, she said the UN and its agencies in partnership with the Federal Government and the Northern Governors are currently reviewing and finalizing a Recovery and Peace-Building Assessment (RPBA) report on the situation in the region.
Her words: “We will continue working closely with civil society leaders in partnering with the Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption and in working closely with Anti-Corruption Agencies towards entrenching a culture of integrity in Nigeria. We will continue engaging with and supporting the National Assembly and other stakeholders because we believe the fight against corruption requires the involvement of everyone.
“Fighting corruption requires strong government wiliness. And I know that UN administration has taken very strong step in fighting corruption. The second problem is the wiliness to track all the funds that has been stolen, hence a constant dialogue with those countries. Now we are living in a global world.
“I am sure you are aware of the moneys that have been recovered from Switzerland and other countries that need to be reinvested in the development programme. Corruption has very much to do with weak institutions. If we can work together in not only making the fight a priority at all level of the state including the Local Government Areas (LGAs), and making sure that every money that leaves the country is accounted for we will make a big difference.
“And I would say that Nigeria with its booming economy has really been penalized in terms of addressing inequalities because of corruption and I know that this nation has made it imperative to consolidate the gain after the democratic elections. We are all responsible one way or the other of how our country’s institution is governed. It is up to us also to make sure that we fight corruption and UNDP will give support.
“This remains a critical area for us at UNDP and the UN at large. We will continue to provide support to the government in responding to emerging challenges; – we are redoubling our efforts and investing more in promoting peace because, as the former Secretary-General Kofi Annan once said, “there can be no development without peace, no peace without development, and none of these without respect for human rights.”
We have already commenced the implementation of two projects which contributes to structural conflict prevention in the North East. These are on ‘Livelihood Support and Social Cohesion’ and the ‘De-Radicalization, Counter-Terrorism and Migration’ Projects.
“The UN efforts are directed at supporting and promoting peace building, conflict prevention and social cohesion. All this is packaged in the framework of a National Infrastructure for Peace in Nigeria. We want to use this framework to harness efforts at Federal, State, and Local Government areas, bringing together the relevant stakeholders. We will keep providing support towards enhancing our early warning and response mechanisms and programmes, and expand channels for dialogue aimed at peaceful co-existence.
“The UN, through its agencies (particularly the UNDP, the UN Women), in partnership with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (formerly of the Presidency and now hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and other development partners, have been working in this area and a draft National Peace Policy was produced. It is my wish that this policy will be approved by the relevant bodies so that we can rally support its implementation. I will like to emphasize the need for coordination amongst the various institutions and partners involved in one aspect of peace building and human security in order to maximize efforts and minimize duplication of resources.
“The UN, EU and WB in partnership with the Federal Government and the North-East State Governments (Governors) are currently reviewing and finalizing a Recovery and Peace-Building Assessment (RPBA) report on the situation in the region. It is my wish that this joint exercise will continue to cement our partnerships and complementarily in accompanying Nigeria on its path to recovery, peace and development.”
Ms. Fatima Samoura is also the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator.
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