The federal government has described as misleading and unfair, the conclusion by Transparency International that corruption is on the increase in Nigeria under the current administration.
It said it wondered the criteria used by the anti-corruption organisation to arrive at its conclusion.
“The Presidency notes that, while it welcomes constructive criticisms from the anti-corruption watchdog, Transparency International (TI), the organisation has a responsibility to reflect the larger picture of the concrete and verifiable achievements of the Buhari administration since it came into office in May 2015,” the government said.
In its reaction to Transparency International as contained in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the federal government said it had made a remarkable difference in the battle against corruption.
Among other things, it said it had displayed the extraordinary courage to go after high profile looters, including former military service chiefs and judges.
It said before now, it was unthinkable to touch or prosecute the ‘‘big men’’ for corruption in Nigeria but President Buhari had ended impunity for corruption.
“Today, the Buhari administration has made accountability the bedrock of governance and corruption is no longer fashionable because it attracts consequences.
“Blocking leakages for corruption through the rigid enforcement of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) had made life tougher for corrupt officials,” government said.
Unfortunately, the government stressed, those efforts were not acknowledged by Transparency International in its report.
The government stated further: “Figures published by the EFCC, the anti-corruption agency, reveal that N738.9 billion was recovered in just two years of the Buhari administration and this impressive and unprecedented record is worthy of mention and acknowledgement by anybody genuinely looking at the larger picture of the country’s progress in the war against corruption.
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“During the 7th session of the Conference of State Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption in Vienna, Austria, the Chairman of the Agency, Ibrahim Magu, noted that the figure represents $2.9 billion dollars.
“Besides these impressive recoveries of looted funds, the EFCC has recorded more than 140 successful prosecutions.
“The federal government has also signed international agreements to recover the proceeds of corruption and to block the laundering of stolen assets abroad by public officials.
“Anybody who knows where Nigeria was coming from would not believe that corruption is worse under the Buhari administration.”
It said at a time Transparency was alleging increase in the incidence of corruption under the government, the whole of Africa was applauding by choosing President Buhari as the continental Champion to lead the fight against it.
“Nothing can be more eloquent than this.”
The government said at the end of the day, the report by Transparency International might just be a mere political distraction, “given the strong views some of TI’s patrons have expressed against the Buhari Administration.”
“This notwithstanding, facts are facts, and those facts won’t cease to be facts even if you don’t care to pay attention to them,” the government declared.
