By Vivian Emoni

The Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, says the Federal Government’s aim in the fight against corruption is to restore public trust in government and ensure protection of civil liberties.

The minister, who was represented by Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, made the remark at the commemoration of 2025 African Anti-Corruption Day in Abuja.

The programme was organised by Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT), in collaboration with the European Union (EU), Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC), MacArthur Foundation and Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD).

The programme is themed, “Promoting Human Dignity and the Fight Against Corruption.’’

Fagbemi said the theme compelled everyone to reframe understanding of corruption, not merely as a breach of law or failure of governance, but as a profound violation of human rights and dignity.

He said that corruption had robbed governments of resources that could be used for essential public services while eroding trust in institutions and undermining the very foundation of democratic societies.

‘’Our aim is to restore public trust in government, our commitment to combating corruption, therefore, must go hand in hand with steadfast dedication to the rule of law, due process, and protection of civil liberties.

“As we build resilient institutions, we must also build a culture of dignity where every Nigerian is treated fairly, and every public institution sees service as a moral duty.

“Nigeria remains unwavering in its commitment to fighting corruption,’’ he said.

Fagbemi said that government agencies were working together under the umbrella of the interagency task force and continued to work tirelessly in investigation, prosecution, and recovery.

He said that beyond the statistics and financial implications, corruption represented a direct affront to human dignity.

He called on Nigerians to embed dignity metrics in public service delivery so that service users would feel respected and not humiliated by state.

Fagbemi said that value-based governance was critical as it entailed cultivating an ethos in the public service that prioritised integrity, empathy, and ethical leadership.

He said that every public servant, from the gatekeeper to the highest office holder, must embrace the principles that “a citizen is sovereign and that public office is a public trust.’’

“We must, therefore, urgently invest in civic education, character formation, and public service ethics, particularly at the level of youth engagement and leadership development,’’ he said.

Mrs Jane Onwumere, Head, Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms (TUGAR), said the event signified shared commitment in the fight against corruption and a testament to great desire to eradicate corruption.

Onwumere noted that courageous efforts had been made to confront corruption head-on, adding that the theme challenged everyone to connect the dots between integrity and human dignity.

According to her, this is to ensure that anti-corruption strategies do not merely punish wrongdoing but protect the rights and well-being of every citizen.

Onwumere, however, called for recommitment of the stakeholders to ‘’building a continent where transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights are not mere aspirations, but a reality.’’

Speaking also, Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), said that corruption was more than financial misconduct; adding that it was a direct attack on human dignity.

Orji said that NEITI, the IATT, and regional partners remained firmly committed to the mission for transparency, justice, and for the dignity of every African citizen.

Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, represented by Assistant Inspector-General of the Police, Victor Olaiye, said that Nigeria needed more individuals with strong integrity to effectively combat corruption.

“While laws and institutions are crucial, the presence of individuals who embody honesty and ethical conduct in public service is vital for fostering a culture of accountability and transparency,’’ he said.

Dr Victor Muruako, Chairman of Fiscal Responsibility Commission, (FRC), also said that fighting corruption effectively required strong collaboration among relevant agencies.

According to him, this collaborative approach is crucial for maximising resources, sharing information and coordinating efforts to address the complex nature of corruption. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Jane-Frances Oraka