The Socialist Party of Nigeria, (SPN) on Wednesday described the establishment of Oyo State Anti Corruption Agency (OYACA) as unnecessary proliferation of anti corruption agencies and a mere grandstanding.
SPN in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Oyo State Secretary Comrade Ayodeji Adigun, fighting corruption in a country like Nigeria goes beyond proliferation of anti corruption agencies.
“As far as the SPN is concerned, to curb the rising and deepening cases of corruption in the state requires more far reaching approach and measures than just a mere creation of anti-corruption agency.
“A measure like placing public funds and resources at the disposal of the state under a democratic control and management by the elected representatives of the working people is a very crucial and fundamental step any government that desires to curb corruption must be willing to take”, it said.
The party added, “for instance, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was created to fight financial crimes but it has not deterred corrupt practices even though some corrupt persons have been arrested and prosecuted while many privileged corrupt practices remain untouchable”.
“Take for instance, if the entire resources at the disposal of the state which include monthly allocation received from the federal government and Internally generated revenue, IGR are subjected to a democratic control and management of a committee or board that is made up of elected representative of workers organizations like NLC, TUC, NBA, ASUU, representative of political parties, civil society organizations, community organizations, it will help to end the age-long regime of secrecy over the actual amount of fund that comes to the coffers of the state on monthly basis.
“It will also ensure that those fund no matter how little and limited are judiciously used on the areas of need of the people. Therefore, it will make it difficult to be looted by the politicians whether in government or business through any form of disguise.”
SPN further stressed,”security votes and contract system including the policy of public private partnership (PPP) are the most fraudulent ways through which every government formed by pro-capitalist parties like APC, PDP among others often use to loot public resources”,
The party noted, “therefore, we hold that, if truly Engr, Seyi Makinde-led government is interested in transparency and accountability including an end to corrupt practices, the regime is hereby challenged to publicly declare how much it earns as security votes and submit same just like every other fund earned and generated by the state to a democratic management and control of the working people as highlighted above”.