CBI's National Integrity Barometer Will Change Nigeria's Corruption Perception - Soji Apampa

Tuesday , December 10, 2019, / 05.40 PM / Ottoabasi Abasiekong for Proshare WebTV / Header Image Credit: WebTV

The planned launch of the National Integrity Barometer 2020, will change the corruption perception that Nigeria has had to grapple with over the last few decades.

Chief Executive Officer of the Convention on Business Integrity (CBi) Mr. Soji Apampa disclosed this at the organisations 5^th  regulatory conversation, which explored the 2020 roadmap for the "National Integrity Barometer".

Mr. Apampa acknowledged the role of international corruption watchdog, Transparency International (TI),  in developing a global corruption Index, that captures Nigeria as one of the world's leading corrupt nations, but fails to highlight the areas that need to be addressed to reduce the incidence of corruption.

According to him, "Nigeria needs a barometer to reflect the changing narrative in tackling corruption."

He said that the barometer would provide an opportunity for Nigeria to build its institutions on integrity, as it changes its corruption perception globally.

Apampa gave the example of the Nigerian maritime sector that has experienced remarkable reforms since 2012.

He said, "This barometer seeks to highlight what works, why it is working and signal policy options that could scale up the impact and learning opportunities." 

Speaking further, he added that the barometer allows Nigerians to see where integrity-building has been weak or strong at the levels of business, government and society at large, and then drill-down from there to the underlying corruption risks that have either been mitigated effectively or are work in progress.

"This is the time for Nigeria, stereotyped as a global leader in corruption, to create a new narrative for itself by being a global leader in building integrity," Apampa said. 

 The CBi Nigeria CEO singled out reforms in the Nigerian maritime sector as a case study of how the nation has progressed in reforms and institution building.

He noted that through the collaboration of regulators, government agencies and stakeholders, the Port Service Support Portal came into effect and has driven efficient standard operating procedures in the industry. 

Apampa informed stakeholders that about 400 companies are currently engaging the PSSP platform, which is driving the standard operating procedures and enhancing the grievance mechanism process for the maritime sector.

He was confident that the partnership with the citizens and government, will give the National Integrity Barometer Index the required coverage and scope across the country.

In her goodwill message, the President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Mrs. Toki Mabogunje lauded the initiative of the "National Integrity Barometer" and assured the CBi and all other partners of the support of the business community in deepening the process.

The event featured group sessions that discussed some of the critical issues to include in the roadmap to developing a National Integrity Barometer in 2020; they involved the following areas;

• Government
• Ministries, Department and Agencies
• Entity Size
• Business
• Geography/Location
• Society