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The State Monitoring Commander of the Anti-Corruption Awareness Organization of Nigeria, (ACAON), Monitoring Squad, Dr. Chuks Nwachukwu, yesterday said the recent corruption scandals in the private and public sector had contributed strongly to the erosion of public trust in Nigeria businesses. Besides it has also cast aspersion on the credibility of the government and public institutions.
Speaking at the 3rd Year Anniversary Ceremony of the organization with theme: “Solutions to the Corruption Menace in Nigeria”, held in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nwachukwu noted that impunity to corruption confirms the perception that globalization is working for the few and leaving many behind.
According to him the Edelman Trust Barometer for 2017 revealed that only 15% of people feel the system is working for them, with 69% of those surveyed expressing concerns about Corruption, and 62% about globalization.
“This erosion of trust is the ideal setting where populism, protectionism and exclusive nationalisms grow. This is creating a series of dangerous synergies that can lead to international fragmentation and confrontation. We need to reverse these trends.
“We need to restore the trust of citizens in their governments, in our democracies and in the ability of global integration and openness to improve lives for the betterment of the citizen”, he said.
According to Nwachukwu, combating corruption effectively is essential to advance in this direction that is why our joint effort is very important. “According to the think tank Global Financial Integrity, illegal financial out flows for most of the period 2004 till date exceeded development. More than ever, the public perceives corruption as a serious issue; public perception is that Corruption has not decreased.
Acts of corruption, money laundering, and fraud are increasingly sophisticated given the globalized economy and technological advances. It is also more difficult to catch and penalize the corrupt faultier
“Also, while we must work to eliminates grand corruption, we should be as mindful of petty corruption, which harms the lives of the poor. This is a point I want us to keep in mind always. “I want you to remember that our policies on governance and anti corruption, can only be effective if each of us is wholeheartedly committed to them, because the flight of corruption is an inter – continental agenda.
He said: “the presence of so many leading organization, policy makers and experts shows the strength of our shared commitment to fight corruption and promote a culture of integrity.
“We’ve said it many times, in many ways corruption destroys human progress. It corrodes the foundations of our societies, our economies and our well – being. It feeds inequalities distorts markets, finances, wars and terrorism, helps smuggle people, guns and drugs, diverting public and private funds into illicit activities. It is a threat to development, to the environment, to human dignity, to global security and to public trust.
On the contribution of ACAON to the war against corruption,Nwachukwu said the group has been at the leading edge of anti – corruption effort for years.
“Our policy tools are helping states tackle corruption in all its forms, and the revised provides natural and globally recognized standard of integrity, transparency, accountability and business integrity.
“Earlier this year, during our founders day, parameters on how corruption can be tackle were deliberated upon, which provides policy makers with the blueprint for a public integrity strategy. It shift the focus from adhoc integrity policies to a comprehensive, risk based approach with an emphasis on cultivating a culture of integrity across the whole of the society”, he said.
He added that every step and initiatives towards reducing crime, and corruption have been game changing. And yet it is still not enough. Corruption continues to blight our economies and our societies.
During the founders day, parameters on how corruption can be tackle were deliberated upon, which provides policy makers with the blueprint for a public integrity strategy. It shift the focus from adhoc integrity policies to a comprehensive, risk based approach with an emphasis on cultivating a culture of integrity across the whole of the society.
He said every step and initiatives towards reducing crime, and corruption have been game changing. And yet it is still not enough. Corruption continues to blight our economies and our societies. We have to do more! We have to seize the opportunity presented by this meeting to scale up our effort and take it into new era.
Presently, the organization is run by voluntary monetary contributions of a very few philanthropic, honest citizens who substantiated this dream and who irrespective of the times had relentlessly been donating bountifully towards the materialization and success of the aims and objectives of the organization.
ACAON was founded in the late 40’s and was known as Anti-Bribery and Corruption Committee, headed by late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. The organization re-awakened on the 25th May, 1969. It was then known as Anti Bribery Corruption and Crime Council of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (ABC & CC).
The organization later metamorphosed to National Anti Corruption Organization of Federal Republic of Nigeria(NACO) in 1994, due to the advice of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it then metamorphosed to Anti-Corruption Awareness Organization Nigeria (ACAON)and now fully recognized and registered by C.A.C on behalf of Federal Government of NigeriaAugust 23rd year 2006. Thereafter, got certificated to work with all law enforcement agencies.
