In a country where corruption is so pervasive, a Police Inspector, Kamoshi Tada, including four other Nigerians, Olugbenga Johnson Kuye (Auditor), Ezekiel Osemuahu Obazele (Procurement Officer), Ojoge Omobola Temitope (principal) and Idowu Quadri (procurement officer) have all bagged awards as integrity icons.
The awards which was bestowed on them in Abuja, Thursday, had the footprint of Accountability Lab Nigeria, in partnership with John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Luminate and Yar’Adua Foundation respectively.
According to Accountability Lab Nigeria, major sponsor of the award series, they have been at the forefront of a global campaign that seeks to identify, celebrate, and amplify the stories of public servants who embody the principles of honesty, accountability, and responsible leadership.
The civil society group goes all out to spotlight individuals who demonstrate commitment to integrity and to inspire others to follow their example while building momentum for a collective demand for reform.
While giving a keynote address at the event, Dr Otive Igbuzor, Founding Executive Director, African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD) said trust is a reciprocal relationship between citizens and their leaders, grounded in the belief that public officials will act in the best interests of society in line with the social contract.
Dwelling on the theme for discussion: “
Building Trust in Governance Processes: The Power of Ethical Behaviours and Positive Norms”, Igbuzor underscored the point that trust is an essential social capital that underpins effective governance.
He noted that in the absence of trust, government policies, no matter how well-intentioned, are likely to be met with resistance and apathy.
The keynote speaker equally posited that trust is a vital element for stable societies and thriving economies, stressing that it fosters cooperation, ensures compliance with laws, and builds sustainable relationships.
He went further to assert that currently the world is grappling with increasing trust deficits across various sectors, including governance, businesses, media and international relations.
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Quoting the Edelman Trust Barometer report (2023) which highlighted a significant global trend of declining trust in institutions, with governments and media being the least trusted sectors in many regions.
“In Nigeria, trust deficits have become a pervasive issue, fuelled by corruption, lack of transparency, poor service delivery, and a history of unfulfilled promises. According to the Edelman Trust Barometer (2023), only 43% of Nigerians expressed trust in their government, highlighting a significant gap in public confidence in governance processes.
“The removal of petroleum subsidies in 2023 without adequate preparation, communication and cushioning measures and the absence of social protection programmes has further alienated citizens from government.
“Frequent corruption scandals and half-hearted efforts to bring alleged corrupt persons to book has further led to low trust in government. Only few days ago, on 2nd December, 2024 the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission announced its largest asset recovery since establishment of an estate spanning 150,500 square metres and comprising of 753 units of duplexes and other apartments in Lokogoma District of Abuja.
“They could not even name and shame the owner but stated that “the property was owned by a former top brass of the government.” Indeed, the newspaper headline stated: EFCC seizes 753-duplex estate, hides ex-govt top shot’s identity.
“This reinforces the class character of law enforcement in Nigeria. If it were to be pick pockets and petty thieves, they will be paraded before the cameras. The low trust in governance has led to voter apathy such that voter turn out in the 2023 elections was only 27 percent and only 8,794, 726 votes produced a president in a country of over 200 million people.
“The trust deficit has profound implications, from political instability and economic downturns to weakened social cohesion. For instance, Trust deficit can lead to protest and uprising as seen in Sudan (2019), Sri Lanka (2022) and #ENDSARS protest in Nigeria in 2020,” Dr Igbuzor submitted.
On his part, Accountability Lab Nigeria, Country Director, Odeh Friday insists the 2023 Corruption Perception Index highlights challenges associated with corrupt practices, placing Nigeria 154th out of 180 countries, which signals an alarming prevalence of corruption in both public and private sectors.
“Similarly, the Global Governance Efficiency Index paints a picture of the country’s performance on key metrics, including government effectiveness, regulatory quality, and adherence to the rule of law. These deficiencies underscore the urgency for transformative reforms to address systemic inefficiencies and promote accountability,”Odeh noted.
