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Tinubu urges ECOWAS member states to adopt anti-corruption protocol
President Bola Tinubu has called on Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) member states to adopt and implement the anti-corruption protocol in their respective domains.
Speaking at the 6th annual general assembly of the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA) in Abuja on Monday, Tinubu emphasized the need for collective action against corruption.
Represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Tinubu announced Nigeria’s donation of an office building for NACIWA’s permanent headquarters. Shettima stressed the importance of building transparent, accountable, and efficient governance structures that serve the people’s interests.
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He urged ECOWAS countries to move beyond rhetoric and take concrete actions to block legal loopholes exploited by corrupt individuals. Shettima also assured that the federal government is not interfering in anti-corruption agencies’ operations and is providing adequate funding.
He said, “The task before us is enormous, but so significant is our collective resolve. By working together, sharing best practices, and leveraging our diverse strengths, we can create a formidable bulwark against corruption in West Africa.
“All member states must ratify and fully implement the ECOWAS protocol against corruption. Let us move from commitment to action, from intention to implementation.
“The future of our region depends on our ability to create transparent, accountable, and efficient governance structures that serve the interests of our people.
“It (corruption) undermines the very fabric of our societies, erodes public trust, and impedes the equitable distribution of resources. As leaders, we are responsible for confronting this challenge head-on with unwavering resolve and concerted action.”
The ECOWAS protocol, adopted in 2001, aims to harmonize and coordinate national anti-corruption laws. Tinubu’s call to action emphasizes the need for member states to ratify and implement the protocol to create a united front against corruption in West Africa.
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