The Federal Government’s effort of fighting corruption through establishing a two strong agencies of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Crimes Commission (ICPC), informed the need for viable Anti-Corruption effort in Nigeria If we need to stand as a stable and prosperous nation. Kano State is one of the few, if not the only state that makes effort to complement Federal Government’s effort in the fight against corruption through the establishment of Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Directorate in April 2005.
The Directorate was upgraded to the position of Commission in 2008 via its enabling laws promulgated by the Kano State House of Assembly and which was signed into law by the Governor on December 11, 2008 and was given a dual mandate of fighting corruption and at the same time play the role of ombudsman.
MANDATE/SERVICES
- To receive and investigate any allegation of corrupt practices against any person, group or organization in the state and based on the outcome of investigations, institute appropriate measures to deal with it.
- To receive, investigate and decide on complaints of injustices and official ineptitude, including administrative decisions based on mistakes, biases or abuse of powers from members of the public against any individual, department or other agencies and functionaries of the State and Local Governments.
- Mediation of disputes between individuals, groups or corporate bodies, thereby ensuring that members of the public have the opportunity to settle their disputes peacefully and amicably through the instrument of State Authority. This role is being undertaken in coordination with other available mediation avenues whether formal or non-formal in the state.
- Support and assistance to the weak and vulnerable members of the society aimed at protecting and promoting their rights under the legal system. These services include, Legal Advice, information and assistance for accessing the judiciary and other institutions responsible for enforcing citizen’s rights, and Referral services.
- Raising Public Awareness on the social ills of corruption and infringements on people’s rights.
ACHIEVEMENTS
From its inception in April 2005 to date a period of 11-years, the Commission has received over 6350 complaints/petitions. Comparative statistics shows recorded cases numbering 166 in 2005; 534 in 2006; 557 in 2007; 655 in 2008; 741 in 2009, 591 in 2010, 422 in 2011 to December 2013 the Commission only received 517 complaints/petitions, with no tentative figure from 2014 – 2015. But from August 2015 to date the Commission received over 2300 complaints/petitions.
Statistically when the preceding years are compared it will show that there is an increase of percentages in the number per year. In 2006 for instance, there was an increase of 369 (67%) over 166 cases recorded in 2005, while in 2007 there was increase of only 22 (4%) over 535 cases recorded in the year 2006.
In 2008 however, the number of cases rose to 655 showing an increase of 98 cases (18%) over the 2007 cases. While in 2009 a total of 741 cases were received showing an increase of 86 (12%) over the 2008 cases. However, after 2011 especially due to change of policy in government and the performance of the Commission the number of cases began to decline. As the data compilation is on quarterly basis, in the current year only January to July 2016 626 cases were recorded by probability ratio if the trend continues, by the end of the year, more than 1000 cases will be recorded.
As at 2010 the following figures of cases were recorded by the Commission as follows:-
Public Complaints and Mediation Department
This department registered a total of 1615 complaints/petitions on generic issues which indicated 57.2% of the total sum complaints/petitions the Commission recorded. Complaints on Housing and Land conflicts constituted 43% (698), while business and trade associated conflicts stood at 15% (236), labour and industrial conflicts were at 26% (415) and family and societal issues were at 16% (266).
Citizen’s Rights Promotion and Protection Department
From its part this department received Seven Hundred and Forty Seven (747) petitions on various forms of allegation of rights abuse which indicated 26.5% of the total sum complaints/petitions the Commission recorded. Allegation of Human Rights Violations (all categories) constituted 32% (237), judicial injustices (Staff of Judiciary) 17% (129), Police injustice 4% (29), Administrative injustice 14.5% (109), civil transactions involving individuals, groups and corporate bodies are 16.5% (124) and Criminal Offences (All categories) constitute 16% (119).
Anti-Corruption Department
Anticorruption Department recorded a total of 461 petitions which indicated 16.3% of the total complaints/petitions the Commission received. Fraud/Corruptions allegations 15% (69), Breach of Contracts/Agreements 49% (225), Maladministration 15% (71), Mismanagement/Misappropriation 7% (31), and Other Related Matters 14% (65).
Operations Department
The Department was created in the year 2015 under the present leadership of the Commission and mandated to handle cases that requires police investigation and during this period recorded tremendous achievements. To mention among others are:-
Total number of cases received during the period is 235. Out of which 26 cases were investigated and terminated, 197 cases are under investigation, 2 cases were investigated and referred for Legal Advise while 10 cases not responded.
- Exhibits recovered during the period under review are as follows:-
- Monetary N103,834,700.00 (One Hundred and Three Million eight hundred and thirty four thousand seven hundred Naira only).
- One motor vehicle – Toyota Hiace
- Three trailers of fertilizer i.e. (1800 bags).
- Eight plots of land.
- 3 plots at Kuyan Ta-Inna.
- 3 pieces of plots at Haiye quarters Kano.
- 2 pieces of plots at Sabari Area Kano.
Distribution of Complaints & Petitions
The Commission receives complaints and petitions against Federal Government Organizations numbering 148 cases (5%), complaints against State Government Organizations stand at 765 (27%), while those registered against Local Government Councils are 360 (13%), the share of cases for Private Organizations are 349 (12%)and those between Individuals and groups are up to 1201 (43%).
Current Status Of Cases/Workload
The Commission had treated all the complaints/petitions with a view to finding remedies. In this regard 1657 (58.5%) were resolved, 139 (5%) are pending, 166 (6%) were either referred or transferred, 168 (6%) were rejected, 62 (2%) withdrawn, 139 (5%) are pending and 631 (22.5%) are still under investigation.
In summary 2053 (73%) complaints and petitions had been disposed up leaving 770 (27%) still receiving attention.
Recovery of Funds
During the stay of the Commission several recoveries from individuals, Government agencies, and other organizations to the tune of more than Two Hundred and Thirty Five Million Naira (N235,000,000.00) and returned to their rightful owners was made.
Response of the Public
The response of the public in relation to the advocacies of the Commission has been very favourable considering the number of petitions received within 10 years. The opportunity includes immense public support which could be galvanized and translated into an asset to forge a united fight against corruption and rights abuse in the state. In its bid to be more effective, the Commission is building up strategic coalition and partnership with Government agencies which include Offices of the Accountant General, State Auditor-General, Auditor-General Local Government Audit, Directorates of Projects Monitoring & Evaluation and that of Shari’a Commission and the Judiciary. This collaboration will help in the implementation of the State Policy on the fight against corruption, fraud, misappropriation and rights abuse. As of July 2016 the decline of the flow of complaints to the Commission has been overcome with an apparent estimate of the best year so far since the establishment of the Commission.
In terms of public acceptance in second quarter of 2016 the ratio of the flow of the petition/complaints stood out at about 100% of the total proceeding years at year by year comparison.
This effort of Kano State Government to this end play a vital role towards the crusade of fighting corruption and other illicit vices from the grass root in the state.
Management Staff/Departments
The Commission has 5 Operational Departments and two units as follows:
- Public Complaints & Mediation Department.
- Rights Protection and Promotion Department,.
- Anti-Corruption Department.
- Operation Department,
- Public Suggestion Box Department,
- Personnel Management Department.
- Public Relations & Communication Unit.
- Account Unit