Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC) has joined Transparency International, Human Rights Watch and Global Witness in calling and appealing to the IMF, the World Bank, other development partners and the private sector to highlight the importance of transparency and integrity in their engagement with the Nigerian Government.
Transparency International, Human Rights Watch and Global Witness had recently proposed key transparency and anti-corruption measures in the IMF’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), who doubles as Executive Director of CISLAC and Transparency International in Nigeria, in an open letter to the International Monetary Funds (IMF), World Bank and the United Nations System in Nigeria and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 last Friday, expressed apprehension about increased risks of corruption, with an increased influx of money.
“With an increased influx of money, however, come increased risks of corruption. As tens ofmillions of Nigerians under the poverty threshold are locked down and unable to feed themselvesand their wards, we cannot afford waste due to fraud and corruption.”
“Furthermore, we would like to emphasize the critical roles of the United Nations Systems in Nigeria and the Government of Nigeria who recently launched the so-called COVID-19 Basket Fund to harmonize investments in a national pandemic response plan.
“With this letter, we respectfully ask that you complement these joint efforts with essential anti-corruption measures in decision-making as well as the subsequent disbursement of funds.”
Below is full text of the letter:
