The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has declared that public sector corruption is not merely focused on financial crimes but also includes fundamental violation of human rights that directly undermines the social contract between the government and its citizens.
This bold position was articulated by Mr. Hassan Salihu, a Deputy Director in the Media and Public Communications Unit of the ICPC, at a recent Anti-Corruption Sensitisation Workshop organised by the Anti-Corruption Unit of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
Presenting a paper titled “Public Sector Corruption: Nature, Consequences, and its Nexus with Human Rights Violations and the National Anti-Corruption Strategy,” Salihu asserted that for any anti-corruption strategy to be effective, it must be explicitly designed and implemented through a human rights-based framework.
The presentation systematically built the case that the consequences of corruption extend far beyond economic losses, outlining the nature of public sector corruption, defining it as “the abuse of entrusted power for private gain” and detailing its forms, from grand corruption by political leaders to petty bribery that affects daily life.
He detailed the devastating consequences, highlighting how siphoning public funds cripples economic growth and, critically, starves essential services like healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
At the core of Salihu’s argument was the direct nexus between corrupt acts and specific human rights violations. He framed citizens not just as victims of poor governance but as direct victims of human rights abuses.
“When corruption leads to a lack of medicines in a hospital or dilapidated school buildings, it is not just poor management; it is a violation of the right to health and the right to education,” Salihu stated. “When a judge can be bribed, the right to a fair trial is violated. When an election is rigged, the right to political participation is trampled upon.”
The paper meticulously linked corruption to a range of rights, explaining how it violates economic and social rights like health, education, and food through misappropriated funds. It also undermines civil and political rights, including the right to a fair trial, political participation, and even life and security when security forces act with impunity.
Moving to the solution, Salihu emphasised that the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) must be reoriented to address this intrinsic link. His key recommendation was the integration of a human rights perspective into all anti-corruption efforts. This includes conducting human rights impact assessments for policies, ensuring access to justice for victims of corruption, and prioritising the fight against corruption in sectors most critical to human rights, such as health, education, and the justice system.
In conclusion, Salihu stated that a National Anti-Corruption Strategy that fails to recognize corruption as a human rights violation is doomed to be ineffective.
He called for a holistic approach where protecting human rights and fighting corruption are treated as two sides of the same coin, essential for achieving sustainable development, upholding the rule of law, and protecting the dignity of every citizen. The presentation ultimately served as a powerful reminder that the fight against corruption is, at its core, a fight for the fundamental rights of the people.