Govt, business laud new anti-corruption initiative

Abuja - The launch of the Clean Business Practice Initiative (CBPI) has been hailed as a breakthrough in the fight against corporate corruption in Nigeria. At the ongoing World Economic Forum (WEF) in Abuja, President Goodluck Jonathan, together with Nigerian private sector leaders and with support from the WEF’s Partnering Against Corruption Initiative (PACI), announced the launch of the initiative. The CBPI, first adopted in June 2013 by the country’s Honorary International Investors Council, is a private sector-driven anti-corruption initiative to complement government efforts in fighting corruption in Nigeria. By committing to develop and implement anti-corruption practices in institutions, systems and processes, the initiative aims to help level the playing field in trade, commerce and industry. Jonathan noted that he was delighted to hear of this private sector initiative, which he believes would both complement and strengthen the government’s resolve to fight corruption, to which he pledged to give his full support. “The private sector acting alone cannot win the fight against corruption in Nigeria,” commented Emmanuel Ijewere, the Coordinator of CBPI. “Effective collaboration between the private sector and government is a critical enabler to our future success,” he said. Elaine Dezenski, Senior Director and Head of PACI at the WEF said her organisation believed the CPBI model would encourage more collective action and business-government partnerships, especially in important sectors for growth and development such as energy, infrastructure and ICT. “These efforts are best when driven locally, together with support from the global business community,” she added. Through PACI, the World Economic Forum has worked for more than a decade to catalyse anti-corruption collective action initiatives and best practices, and supports the work of leading CEOs and their organizations who have committed to the PACI Principles of zero tolerance against all forms of corruption. The CBPI board consists of representatives from the private sector, civil society and the media.