Corruption in Military Dangerous, Divisive, Wasteful, Fuels Insurgency, TITells Armed Forces

CAS: We’ve reformed our procurement system

Transperancy International (TI) yesterday informed the Nigerian armed forces that corruption in the military is dangerous, divisive, wasteful and fuels insurgency.

It said where graft is entrenched among military establishment, was dangerous.

This was made known at a one-day Leadership Workshop organised by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in conjunction with Transparency International and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CSLAC).

Senior Advisor to TI, Ian Andrews, explained that high level of corruption in the military has the tendency to derail national growth, development and even stir up insurgencies and warfare.

He maintained that the problem of corruption in military establishments across the globe, adding that corruption in military procurement was not peculiar to Nigeria, but a global challenge which undermines confidence in state institutions.

He said: “Corruption in military establishment is dangerous, divisive and wasteful with far reaching consequencies on the state, and fuels insurgency.

“Soldiers, sailors will die as a result of it, nations would fail as a consequence of it. It’s divisive because it undermines confidence and public trust in the institutions of the state and of officers.

“It’s wasteful because too much is spent on the wrong things which do not meet the needs of the armed forces.

“Corruption in the military is a tool for recruiting insurgents as civil society becomes delusion,” Andrews stated.

He rather expressed confidence that the standard raised by Nigerian military institutions based on the approaches adopted by the present leadership would bring about trust and position the nation’s military for transparency and efficiency.

Andrew in his submission pointed out developments in military institutions in Indonesia, Columbia, Uganda, Iraq and other nations where corruption has taken deep root.

“There is need to build integrity, confidence and resilience as important tools to combat the monster of corruption. This, of course will lead to operational effectiveness. In some countries I mentioned, this is being done and things have really improved.

“Corruption in the defence destroys the institution of the state and it is a huge global challenge that needs to be tackled. It is also a huge challenge facing the whole world,” Andrews stressed.

Speaking, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, explained that following the 2014-2015 Report of Transparency International on Government Defence Procurement System, the present leadership of the NAF has carried out reforms to ensure transparency and integrity of the entire system.

Abubakar said: “I think it would be most appropriate to give a brief background on the reason why this NAF Leadership Day workshop is being organised and the expected benefit of the workshop to the NAF.

“Sometime ago, Transparency International conducted an independent survey and came up with a “Government Defence Anti-Corruption Index (61).

“The survey was conducted between Year 2014 and 2015. The report of the survey ranked Nigeria amongst the highest risk corruption categories in the defence and security sector.

“The document suggested ways forward, with one cardinal recommendation being the need for defence sector reforms, including an overhaul of the procurement process.”