In a scathing critique of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure, civil society organization Accountability Lab Nigeria has highlighted the failure of his administration to fulfill promises of public accountability. Despite campaigning on anti-corruption, security, and economic development, Buhari’s actions did not align with his rhetoric.
Accountability Lab Nigeria’s country director, Odeh Friday, emphasized the importance of accountability in upholding public trust and nurturing a robust democracy. Corruption has long plagued Nigeria at all levels of governance, with deep-rooted unethical practices persisting for generations.
Friday acknowledged the need to evaluate Buhari’s achievements and shortcomings, taking into account his background as both a military ruler and a democratically elected president. Nigeria’s integrity rankings consistently reveal the country’s deficiencies, as it ranks 102nd out of 114 countries in the Index of Public Integrity.
Despite widespread opposition to corruption, it continues to thrive. The Chatham House Africa Programme’s Social Norms and Accountable Governance Project found that many Nigerians perceive corruption as morally unacceptable. Friday questioned how a leader who presents himself as a person of integrity can oversee such widespread corruption.
While Buhari pledged to hold corrupt political officeholders accountable, political considerations often overshadowed this promise. Friday cited cases where a former governor and serving senator faced fraud charges but were eventually released through a Supreme Court judgment. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) also uncovered allegations of substantial bribes offered to judges for political cases, totaling approximately N9.4 billion between 2018 and 2020.
Efforts to combat corruption under the Buhari administration have been marred by failures at every stage, from investigation and prosecution to policy change. Any potential for building strong institutions was compromised due to Buhari’s inability to address corruption, ultimately undermining progress.
Civil society organizations consistently raised concerns about political interference eroding the independence of institutions, but Buhari failed to take decisive action. The ICPC revealed that around 60 percent of corruption cases are procurement-related, involving public servants abusing procurement processes.
Buhari had promised to establish the National Council on Public Procurement, as mandated by the Public Procurement Act 2007. However, the government continues to approve substantial sums of money through the Federal Executive Council, undermining the authority of the NCPP.
Unethical practices within government institutions have significantly impacted the well-being of Nigerians, perpetuating poverty and inequality. Existing accountability provisions, such as the Code of Conduct for public officers, are rarely enforced. The Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act requires public officers to disclose their properties, assets, and liabilities, but these declarations are seldom available for public scrutiny, contrary to constitutional provisions. Public office in Nigeria has become a means for personal wealth accumulation.