Abuja, 14 February 2025 – Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) is a non-governmental organization and social enterprise driven by the desire to have a more transparent and accountable government as well as citizens empowered to actively participate in governance processes. Our programs are designed to promote values and initiatives which drive institutional, behavioural and systemic change on a large scale and in a way that will benefit society and its development. PPDC provides the strongest Civil Society voice in support of procurement reforms in Nigeria.
The Nigeria government has committed to addressing corruption and has taken steps to accomplish this, even though the scourge still persists. On Tuesday, 11th February, 2025, the Transparency International (TI), officially launched the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). Nigeria’s 2024 CPI score is 26 out of 100, showing a slight improvement from 25 in 2023. Its global ranking also improved from 145th to 140th out of 180 countries.
PPDC emphasizes that while Nigeria has made some efforts in tackling corruption, systemic weaknesses persist. The CPI does not measure the number of anti-corruption agencies, but rather the effectiveness and efficiency of systems in curbing corruption. It is essential to recognize the ongoing challenges and emerging threats in the fight against corruption. Modern issues such as digital corruption, transnational corruption, and corruption in emerging technologies continue to evolve, requiring adaptive and proactive solutions.
At the PPDC, we recognize that a united front is essential to overcoming the complex and interconnected challenges posed by corruption, therefore in the spirit of sustained advocacy we make the following call to action;
- Public procurement remains one of the most corruption-prone areas in governance. The 2021 Auditor General’s report highlights significant fraud within procurement processes. Establishing the National Procurement Council will strengthen oversight and reduce corruption risks.
- The Nigerian government recently recovered $52.88 million linked to former oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke. We call for full transparency and accountability in managing these funds to ensure they benefit Nigerian citizens.
- A comprehensive Whistleblower Protection Act is critical in encouraging Nigerians to report corruption without fear of retaliation. Legal protection for whistleblowers will enhance public participation in the fight against corruption.
- Compliance to Freedom of Information requests by the MDAs from the members of the civil societies and media need to be improved. Strengthening compliance will enhance access to information and promote transparency.
- Agencies leading the implementation of Nigeria’s National Action Plan (NAP) on Open Government Partnership (OGP) must show greater political will in fulfilling their commitments. Aligning these efforts with citizen-driven service delivery initiatives will strengthen governance.
- Investigations and prosecutions especially of politically exposed persons and high-profile corruption cases. Greater synergy will lead to more convictions and a stronger deterrent effect. Doing the above PPDC belief next year CPI will be better
About The Public and Private Development Centre
The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) is a non-profit organisation committed to improving citizens participation in governance in a way that improves the integrity of public governance processes, fostering transparent and accountable governance. We empower citizens to actively participate in shaping their communities by driving institutional, behavioural, and systemic change.
Signed:
Lucy James Abagi
Chief Executive Officer
For Further Information:
Contact PPDC Communication Team
comms@ppdc.org