HEDA Sets Anti-Corruption, Good Governance Agenda for Tinubu at Mid-Term Mark; Commended EFCC on handing over of recovered 753 Houses to Government
As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu marks two years in office under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has urged the administration to recalibrate its governance strategy with a renewed focus on transparency, accountability, and inclusive development. In a statement signed by its HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the civil society organisation acknowledged key strides made by the current administration but emphasized that the country’s worsening poverty rate, weak anti-corruption mechanisms, and erosion of democratic accountability demand urgent intervention. Suraju noted that while commendable efforts have been recorded by anti-corruption agencies and reforms in the passport issuance process, the legal autonomy granted to local governments, Nigerian Education Loan Fund, and infrastructure development, the impact of economic reforms has been severely undercut by inflation, rising debt, and unaddressed corruption scandals. “President Tinubu came into power at a time when Nigerians were yearning for credible leadership, economic stability, and justice. Two years later, while some progress has been made, millions of Nigerians are still trapped in multidimensional poverty, insecurity persists, and anti-corruption enforcement remains challenging,” Suraju noted. HEDA further called on the Tinubu administration to demonstrate greater political will by prosecuting high-profile individuals implicated in corruption scandals, particularly within key ministries, departments and agencies. It expressed concern that the much-publicized Conditional Cash Transfer programme and other social investment schemes have been marred by lack of transparency and poor monitoring mechanisms. The group also urged the government to publish regular audit reports, enforce the Freedom of Information Act, and empower anti-graft institutions to operate independently and without political interference. “Much of the hardship in the country is exacerbated by unbridled public spending, such as billions allocated for luxury vehicles for lawmakers, religious pilgrimages, and underused official residences, at a time when universities remain underfunded and basic amenities are scarce,” Suraju stated. HEDA stressed the importance of institutionalizing reforms that go beyond superficial palliatives. It pointed to the need for a stronger justice system, improved citizen engagement, and protection of civil liberties. The group criticized the heavy-handed response to peaceful protests like the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations and called for greater tolerance of dissent in a democratic setting. HEDA further commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on the recent official handing over of 753 housing units recovered from the immediate past Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele to the federal government for management, and demand transparency and accountability in the administration and allocation of the recovered proceeds of crimes to victims of Emefiele’s corrupt activities. “As the country navigates the next two years of Tinubu’s administration, it is imperative to place citizens’ welfare and institutional integrity at the heart of governance. We urge the President to lead a national reorientation process that prioritize accountability, competence, and service delivery across all levels of government.” He added.
