Nigeria Commemorates International Anti-Corruption Day

Abuja, 9 December 2022: Today, Nigeria marked the 2022 International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD), a day that seeks to highlight the crucial link between anti-corruption and peace, security, and development. Under the auspices of the Inter-Agency Task Team, the coordinating forum of 21 agencies with anti-corruption and accountability mandates, over 200 representatives of anti-corruption agencies, the judiciary, CSOs, media organizations and youth came together to mark the occasion.

At the core of IACD is the notion that tackling this crime is the right and responsibility of everyone, and that only through cooperation and the involvement of each and every person and institution can we overcome the negative impact of this crime. States, government officials, civil servants, law enforcement officers, media representatives, the private sector, civil society, academia, the public and youth alike all have a role to play in this. 

The 2022 IACD also marks the start of efforts to mark the twentieth anniversary of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). This is reflected by the theme of this year’s international day, “UNCAC at 20: Uniting the World Against Corruption”. Over the next year, culminating with IACD 2023, UNODC, together with partners worldwide, we will be reflecting on a world made better thanks to the collective push afforded by the Convention and, crucially, what gaps remain to ensure this is a truly strong mechanism for the years ahead.

Corruption is a major impediment to peace, security and development. From education to the environment, from business to sports, from gender equality to access to justice, and more – corruption undermines all areas of society’s development.

In 2003, the world came together to adopt a landmark agreement – the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). Since then, 188 parties have committed to the Convention’s anti-corruption obligations, showing near-universal recognition of the importance of good governance, accountability, and political commitment.

As one of the earliest adopters of UNCAC, Nigeria ratified the Convention in 2004. In addition to the global theme, Nigeria has adopted two local themes to mark this year’s IACD, which were the focus of panel discussions during the commemoration: Tackling Corruption in the elections process: the 2023 General Elections and Beyond; and the National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2022-2026: What do we need to do differently?

 

Since the Conference of State Parties to the Convention established the Implementation Review Mechanism in 2009, Nigeria has undergone two review cycles. The UNODC Country Office in Nigeria,

in cooperation with all relevant stakeholders, has prepared a report which takes stock of Nigeria’s follow up to the 2014 and 2019 UNCAC implementation reviews. The full report will be presented on 14 December at an event at the UN house in Abuja.

The world today faces some of its greatest challenges in many generations – challenges which threaten prosperity and stability for people across the globe, including in Nigeria. As we move towards the twentieth anniversary of UNCAC in October 2023, this Convention and the values it promotes are more important than ever.

As a State Party to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), Nigeria has benefited from UNODC support to the Government, civil society and the private sector to prevent corruption, strengthen integrity, accountability and transparency, enhance the legal framework against corruption, improve the capacity of and coordination amongst various anti-corruption bodies, enhance the recovery and return of the proceeds of corruption, as well as international cooperation. This is a key priority area for UNODC, as laid out in the Strategic Vision for Nigeria, which seeks to ‘safeguard people, institutions and the economy from corruption and illicit financial flows’.

 

UNODC Nigeria