Okikiola Qasim
Islamic scholars of highest esteem, chief Imam of central Mosques, Missioners of Islamic organizations, Islamic teachers, Islamic youth organizations writers and administrators of Islam in Nigeria held a two day workshop to brainstorm on Islamic Manual on ‘Amanah’ (Trust) on fiscal Governance, sourcing guidance from the Quran and Hadith written by Umar Rufai an initiative of Centre for Social Justice in Nigeria. The objectives is to explore the possibility of taking advantage of the fact that many Nigerians known Muslims made concerted efforts to live up to the teachings of Islam to drive home the importance of imbibing the spirit of transparency and accountability in the management of public resources. Corruption, in all ramifications, is a big hurdle that has held back national development. Attempts made so far to stem the tide of corruption have not yielded the desired results. Just like other aspects of public life in which government makes use of religion to sensitize the citizens and mobilize them for specific objectives, the teachings of Islam are explored to empower Muslim leaders and their followers in the struggle against corruption and mismanagement of public resources.
In summarizing the manual in which many scholars at the workshop approved as an extract of the instructions of Allah and the teaching of the prophet Muhammad SAW with clear interpretations and sincerity, I could not but replicate some of the teachings in the manual.
Chapter one, which is the Introduction, discusses the objectives of the manual, qualities expected of persons to be entrusted with leadership positions, enhancement of democracy and development and the tenets of Islamic value system. The issues are discussed based on the relevant verses of the Qur’an and authentic sayings of Prophet Muhammad, peace be unto him. More importantly, the issues are such that there is consensus of opinion among Islamic Scholars. Therefore, there is no excuse, for any Muslim not to comply with the teachings of Islam which will inevitably lead to reduction or even eradication of corruption.
Chapter Two draws attention to the dangers of sitting on the fence when it comes to waging war against corruption. Issues discussed here include the duty of citizens and the government to ensure that ethical standards of society are upheld; fighting corruption to a standstill and preventing the subversion of the legal system. This will lead to remarkable reduction in the level of unemployment and the rate of crime in society. This Chapter draws attention to the importance of discharging civic duties to the nation including payment of taxes, the power to challenge corrupt practices and citizens’ duty to resist fiscal tyranny. Citizens owe it a duty to show keen interest in the making and implementation of fiscal policies and programmes. They should monitor various projects being carried out by government to ensure value for money.
Chapter Three lays emphasis on the importance of planning and timeliness of budgeting and fiscal governance activities. The budget should be prepared in good time to facilitate early passage by the legislature and eventual full implementation in the over-all interest of the nation. It emphasizes spending according to the appropriation plan; preparation of the budget with measurable indicators and qualification of bidders in public procurement. Should these precautionary measures be taken, the implementation of the budget will be easy to monitor by evaluating the realization, success or failure of the indicators.
Chapter Four is about accountability and transparency in fiscal transactions. It explores the concept of accountability, the duty to report to stakeholders by giving account of stewardship, prudence in spending, remitting of operating surplus to the treasury and spending according to appropriation. Other issues discussed in the Chapter include the need to set up the National Council on Public Procurement, the involvement of civil society and professionals at bid opening sessions, open competitive bidding, lowest evaluated responsive bid, separation of powers and the powers of the Auditor-General. Officers in charge of implementing the budget should hold themselves accountable for all financial transactions by making regular reports without altering the documents. This will guide them to avoid fraud in their transactions; it will also inspire them to contribute their quota to the amelioration of the suffering of the ordinary people because projects that will impact positively on people’s lives will be successfully executed and maintained. There are occasions when money budgeted for a particular project is not exhausted. It is the duty of the officers in charge to make a report to that effect and pay back the amount in excess into the coffers of government. The law is very clear on this. Along the same line, the National Council on Public Procurement should be put in place measure to perform its statutory functions of ensuring accountability and transparency in procuring materials for government.
Public accounts should be audited as at when due. Legislators at all levels should not default in carrying out their oversight duties. The foregoing will check the excesses of the officers implementing the budget. Relevant records should be made available to the public so that the implementation of the budget can be monitored closely and meticulously. Civil society and professional organizations should be involved in various activities relating to the formulation and implementation of the budget. In case of bidding for contracts to procure materials or build projects, efforts should be made to ensure that the most qualified bidder, based on the criteria laid down for the purpose, should be given the job and at the most reasonable price.
Chapter Five is on the management of investments, savings and borrowing in public finance management. Resources of Government should be managed with prudence. Sufficient funds should be made available for capital projects which improve living standards. Efforts should be made to avoid wastage by saving excess funds for use in future. Except it becomes unavoidable, debts should not be incurred. Even when it becomes inevitable to borrow, caution should be exercised to avoid indulging in it, to avoid a situation whereby the future of the people will be mortgaged.
Chapter Six ends the Manual with suggestions on urgent and important steps to be taken to abolish corruption in fiscal governance. They include strict compliance with the law and regulations relating to fiscal discipline and nipping in the bud corrupt practices such as inflation of invoices, circumventing code of conduct for public procurement, connivance by law-enforcement agents to stall proper investigation of corruption cases in fiscal governance, etc. The exposition of the roles expected of Imams and other Muslim leaders to discourage, prevent and condemn corrupt practices in relation to fiscal governance in particular, and generally in social life concludes the Manual.
The most important aspect of the workshop was the public presentation of the manual; this attracted the members of the public, stakeholders on Islamic matters and the gentlemen of the press. The reviewer of the book Sheikh Tajudeen Adigun Bello, represented by Dr. Umar Aliyu Yanda, a lecturer from FCT College of Education, Zuba, spoke extensively on the need for Human beings to confine their lives based on the trust in order to attain and live within the expected provision of fiscal Governance in accordance to the tenet of Islam. He cited many examples of some countries with less mineral resources but with trust and fear of Allah they are in better economic position and their citizens are living well. He reviewed the six chapters of the manual step by step.
He could not hide his joy and gratitude over the wonderful initiatives of the CSJ and relentlessly struggles to pass right information to the right thinking Nigerians. However, regardless of their faith on why fiscal Governance, management of resources, good infrastructural programmes, education, electioneering and trust of the nation collective resource should not be left in the hands of government official alone without monitoring. He urged the participants to replicate the training received to boost of their ability in all their respective endeavor that this will in a long way benefit the Muslims and our country at large.
The public presentation was done by SA to the Bwari Area Council on Islamic matters Alh Yakubu Saidu, on behalf of the Serikin Karsh. He also reminded the participants and the general public to remember that this is a trust on all and we shall be asked in all aspect of it. He urged the leaders to take lessons of the manual. He advised governments and private firm to have the book as their guide on good governance.
The author advised all participants to start the same gesture in their respective mosques/ Organizations and train more stakeholders. It would be recalled that during the workshop participants were divided into zonal groups and each zone was charged to present work plan on how to replicate this workshops. Indeed, it was a marvelous experience. If these ideals could be collated and implemented, the achievement would be more.
The work shop and the presentation of the manual was an experience I can’t forget so soon. It was a well-organized programme and well attended by all standard. It’s one of the best of its kind in the recent time.