Members of the Network of National Anti-corruption Institutions in West Africa, NACIWA took a giant step towards strengthening commitment to tackle cross border crimes as the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Network got underway on Monday November 14, 2022 in Niamey, Niger Republic.

Welcoming members to the Assembly, the President of the Network and Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa said the meeting was called to ratify key resolution of the executive committee meeting which took place in July 2022 in Abuja Nigeria, regarding the functioning of the Network.

Bawa said the Extraordinary General Assembly of NACIWA represents a “significant step to strengthen efforts in the fight against corruption and associated crimes within our region.’’

He however regretted that NACIWA member Institutions from Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso were not represented at the meeting due to the situation in their countries. 

                                                                    Regional Push for Action Against Trans Border Crimes

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By Abdulrasheed Bawa

I am delighted and honoured to welcome you all to the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA) in Niamey, Niger hosted by the High Authority for the Fight Against Corruption and Assimilated Offenses (HALCIA) Republic of Niger.

We may recall that earlier this year in March, during the 5th Annual General Assembly (AGA) of NACIWA, new members of the Executive Committee were elected to continue with the responsibility of realizing the vision of our Network.

Following the conclusion of the Annual General Assembly, the Executive Committee under my leadership, met in July in Abuja, Nigeria to deliberate on key issues regarding the functioning of the Network.

At this meeting, key resolutions were reached; many of which require ratification by the NACIWA General Assembly. It is in this regard that the Executive Committee called for an Extra-ordinary General Assembly of the Member Institutions of NACIWA.

Dear colleagues, our meeting today is not just an important day for our NETWORK, but also for the West African region. Today, NACIWA will take significant steps to strengthen efforts in the fight against corruption and associated crimes within our region.

I therefore wish to appreciate Members for making time out of their tight commitments to honor the invitation and attend this Extra-ordinary General Assembly. Indeed, it is a testament to our collective resolve to tackle corruption and other cross border crimes in our jurisdictions.

The task before this General Assembly is an onerous one as Member institutions would be invited to ratify proposals made by the Executive Committee in line with the NACIWA Statutes and Rules of Procedure.

At this juncture, let me seize the opportunity to provide an update on certain developments regarding our member institutions. The first is in relation to the Vice President of NACIWA – Cllr. Edwin Martin Kla – Executive Chairperson of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission. The Liberian Senate on 19th July, 2022 voted to remove tenure of services from several government institutions, notable among which was the Liberian Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC). Consequently, the NACIWA Vice President was not able to join us at the Executive Committee Meeting in Abuja, Nigeria.

Furthermore, due to the subsisting political situation in in their countries, our colleagues from NACIWA member Institutions in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso, are not able to join us.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, I strongly believe that our deliberations here today will yield positive outcomes and provide the relevant platform for NACIWA to progress in the delivery of its mandate.

Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby officially declare the Extra-ordinary General Assembly of NACIWA open today, Monday 14th November, 2022.

I thank you for listening and wish us fruitful deliberations!

·Being Text of welcome remarks by ABDULRASHEED BAWA, CFE, CAMS Executive Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and President, Network of National Anti-corruption Institutions in West Africa, NACIWA, at the Extraordinary General Assembly (AGA) of NACIWA, which held on November 14, 2022 in Niamey Niger Republic.

Media & Publicity

14 November, 2022