Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

The Transparency International Defence and Security (TI-DS) and Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), in a new report released, on Monday, has disclosed that a whopping N241.8 billion ($670 million) is being spent annually by the Federal Government in the name of ‘Security Votes’ without proper audit or oversight.

The Campaigners argued that the practice fuels corruption and conflict and have recommended that the Nigerian government pass federal legislation outlawing security votes at all levels, to be accompanied by legislation specifying budgeting procedures and criteria for security expenditure.

The report titled, Camouflaged Cash: How ‘Security Votes’ Fuel Corruption in Nigeria’, decried that  while the 2018 defence budget is estimated to be some $1.2 billion (1.03 billion euros) more than $670 million extra were being handed out annually without proper oversight.

The report said the annual sum for security vote was also  more than 70 percent of the annual budget of the Nigeria Police Force and more than nine times the United States of America security assistance since 2012.

The sum is  also more than 12 times the UK counter terrorism support for 2016 to 2020.

The report said 29 Nigeria States receive an average total of $580 million through security votes each year, indicating $5 million increase in security votes spending between 2016 and 2018.

Transparency International Defence and Security (TI-DS) and Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) explained that the Security Votes ‘Camouflaged Cash’ used by successive governments since 1999 are opaque funds that are disbursed at the discretion of public officials usually cash, without being subjected to oversight or independent audit.

They said, “in theory they are meant to cover unforeseen security needs but in reality many have become slush funds for corrupt officials.”

Katherine Dixon, Director of Transparency International Defence and Security said, “The security vote is one of the most durable forms of corruption operating in Nigeria today.

“Yet instead of addressing its many urgent threats, the ever-increasing use of security votes is providing corrupt officials with an easy-to-use and entirely hidden slush fund.”

“Corruption in the crucial sector of defence and security plays right into the hands of those who seek to sow the seeds of instability and terror.

“It leaves armed forces under-resourced in the fight against Boko Haram and feeds groups who may destabilize the elections,” she added.

Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director CISLAC said, “We are calling on all candidates for the coming election to agree to phase out this secretive and dated form of spending.”

He added that, “Growing insecurity at a time when security vote spending has increased shows that it serves no positive purpose in keeping Nigerian citizens safe. Any candidates serious about fighting corruption in Nigeria will recognise the need to urgently address the problem of security votes.”

The TI-DS) and CISLAC also recommended have also asked for the establishment of  effective oversight structures to ensure existing spending is appropriated.

They called for support to state governments to set up Security Trust Funds as a constructive first step to phasing out security votes.

The report noted that as well as undermining the fight against corruption, the misuse of the funds is fueling instability in the country.

It said by prioritising security vote spending, less funding is available for Nigerian Forces to pay salaries, or procure needed supplies, leaving them under equipped to fight Boko Haram.

The report also noted that at the Federal level, the total number and amounts of security votes in the federal budget fluctuates year-to year.

It said, “Security votes are distinct from the type of extra budgetary defence spending that is approved directly by the President, but resembles it insofar as they are spent with scant legislative oversight or outside scrutiny.”

It said, “Although President Buhari in 2016 scaled back his use of security votes compared to his predecessor Goodluck Jonathan, the use of security votes was again ramped back up in 2017 and 2018.”

The reported noted that the 2018 budget shows a significant increase (43 percent) in the total amount budgeted for security votes.

Source: http://sunnewsonline.com/fg-spends-n241b-annually-on-security-votes-illegally-ti-cislac/amp/

Front Page: Lalasticlala

I know yall wont read full report but here's a few interesting things about this corrupt fund. Its carried out mostly in cash and it can be used to fund non secruity related items. The report says its likely whats used to pay millitants to protect pipelines.

Key issues with secruity funds.

1. No established budgeting process. Security vote is not itemised. Officials do not de-conflict security vote outlays with previous—or planned—security expenditures to prevent duplicative or unnecessary spending.

2. No independent audit, legislative oversight or public scrutiny.All payments from security votes
are made in cash and with minimal recordkeeping.

3. Undefined classification and declassification guidelines.There are no rules or clearly defined legal bases for determining what information about security votes can and cannot be made public or shared with oversight entities (i.e. legislators or auditors).

4.No public tenders or competitive bidding. Contracts awarded via the security vote are exempt from key
provisions of the Public Procurement Act.

Here is a sample of some of the many MDAs that received security votes in the proposed 2018 budget, despite having no security-related function:

• Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State: $79,000
(N28,417,308).
• National Commission for Museum and Monuments: $58,000 (N20,756,240).
• National Education Research and Development Council: $57,000 (N20,520,000).
• National Film and Video Censor Board: $36,000 (N12,999,040).

Front Page: Lalasticlala

Not my concern

Corruption galore under the Dullard

And we still pay nepa bills?

Security votes? Who is securing who when the rampaging Fulanis are doing their killings unhindered?

The big issue people seem to have missed is fact the funds could be uses for clandestine operations like funding, political thugs, bribing election officials, insurgents etc. (O.J simpson voice) Im not saying anyone did anything but if they did you can see how. You lots of cash to spend virtually no oversight.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Pass federal legislation outlawing security votes at the federal, state and local levels. Even though security votes lack any legal or constitutional basis, it is unlikely that federal, state and local government entities will stop using them without being compelled to do so. A ban on the use of security votes should be accompanied by legislation specifying budgeting procedures and criteria for security expenditures. These should meet international best practices, incorporate oversight mechanisms, transparency standards and strictly defined conditions for the use contingency funds or ‘black budgets’.

2. Monitor confidential security spending.
If it is so important for national security that a proportion of federal and states’ security budgets remains secret, then it should be equally important that it is spent effectively. The only way to ensure this is to put in place effective oversight structures. For genuinely confidential procurements, a separate legal procedure could be designed allowing for monitoring by specially-vetted legislators and government auditors.

3. Educate officials, security leaders and the general public about risks and drawbacks of using
security votes. Civil society groups, the media and other opinion leaders should challenge the conventional wisdom of using security votes, highlight their corruption risks and suggest constructive alternatives. In the run up to the 2019 elections, candidates should be asked to go on record about the security vote issue.

4. Support state government efforts to set up Security Trust Funds (STFs) as a constructive first step
toward phasing out security votes.

The federal government and Nigeria’s international partners should work with state governments to establish STFs as a transitional measure. STF best practices should be enshrined in an act passed by the National Assembly, to ensure that their funds are used accountably and in the public interest. The Lagos State Trust Fund (see sections 3 and 5) could be drawn upon as an model. To succeed, these funds must be must be professionally managed, cost-effective, transparent and free from political and security force interference.

Lagos State Security Trust Fund

It is governed by an independent board with representatives from government, civil society and the private sector. To avoid potential conflicts of interest, security agency representatives do not sit on the board. Private sector donors now provide between 30-40 percent of LSSTF funds, with the Lagos State government providing the rest.

Front Page: Lalasticlala

"Security votes" are a form of corruption, nothing more or less, but few Nairalanders (or Nigerians in general) will be interested in the issue, since it doesn't provide them the opportunities they seek to blame other tribes, religions or political parties for their personal woes. This disinterest in holding their own political representatives responsible is why I say Nigerians deserve the low quality of governance they receive, and have no business talking about selfish "elites" being the only ones to blame, as if the millions of ordinary Nigerians had no hand in elevating those "elites" in the first place: start a thread on "Yorubas vs Igbos" and watch the comments come in thick and fast, but when it comes to a topic like this one, with direct relevance to the quality of nearly everyone's life, you won't hear a word from any of the usual suspects, unless it's an attempt by them to derail the discussion towards their usual tribal and religious obsessions.

omohayek:
"Security votes" are a form of corruption, nothing more or less, but few Nairalanders (or Nigerians in general) will be interested in the issue, since it doesn't provide them the opportunities they seek to blame other tribes, religions or political parties for their personal woes.

It's weird to me this topic didnt get traffic. When El Rufi and Dogara were arguing about secruity vote people were in thread. I also think I picked bad day to post since IPOB is trending topic just like last year.

The idea of secruity votes is completly corrupt and shows how insane the secruity architecture is. It goes against Buhari's stated policy of zero based budgeting. Then you have risk of fueling insecurity having lump somes of cash that cant be tracked and wont be audited. The funny thing is police are lobbying for special fund and FG want to withdraw a billion from excess crude account to fight Boko Haram.

The practice needs to be outlawed and states should adopt lagos model. Everyone ralking about secruity and anti corruption without addressing this 400 pound gorrila in room are joking around.

Front Page: Lalasticlala

Buhari is a thief no differently then his master Abacha.

Then they will come and tell us he is fighting corruption when this old relic has turned Nigerian democracy into military dictatorship ran by nepotism to enrich his friends and family at the country's expense.

Lalasticlala check my profile


Things like this will be permanent in Jesus name Amen

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You know the ironic thing?

This using security votes for elections (clearly wrong) is the same thing Dasuki is accused of!

.

Buhari don finish us

And some persons will still call Bubu Mr integrity...it baffles me.bubu is just a typical example of "wolf in sheep's clothing".

Joelsblog:
Lalasticlala check my wall nau

Check your wall for wetin? Some of you think frontpage is your birthright

This is an institutional corruption. We make it so easy to steal. Before 2007,it was rumoured that some South South Governors where taking home 50 billion annually as security votes. Nigeria can't develop unless there is a revolution that will shake the tables of corruption that the elites have been dinning on.

There has to be a violent struggle backed by a well thought out ideology. Some people just have to die for this nation to be rescued.

Security vote is the only way the federal government and state government steal money legally

Pyting kwarofshan indeed

incorruptible saint MohamMad Bullhari is working

back to daura

No oversight. No audit. No form of accountability: It would be very difficult to convince an idiot that Security Votes is not actually a funnel for draining public funds and enriching the politically privileged.

This country ehn!

OK

Sh1T holE

And their only achievement is "Fighting" Corruption