The Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said on Tuesday that corruption persisted in the country because Nigeria lacked the institutions, systems and processes to prevent it.
Okonjo-Iweala made this known when she spoke on the Topic: `Preventing Leakages in the Nigerian Economy` at the Catholic Caritas Foundation Forum in Abuja.
According to her, the absence of the relevant systems and institutions that will help check corruption has created opportunities for people to engage in the act.
“This thing has been with us and we must crack it. This is not something that started in this country today; but it is something that we must crack.
“Fundamentally, we have to ask ourselves, why has this continued to be a problem; I am convinced that it is because we constantly look at the symptoms and not the cause of the disease.
“The cause of the disease is we don’t have in place the institutions, the systems and the processes to block and prevent it in the first place.
“That’s the only difference between us and the people abroad.`
The minister assured that people would be compelled to do the right thing always if the appropriate systems were in place to block and prevent corruption.
She urged youths in the country to ask the relevant questions that would help tackle corruption in the country.
She said: “This is so important now because of technology and I am a total fan of the use of technology and electronic platforms to block the leakages in this country.
“We must use them the way they are being used in other countries.“
Okonjo-Iweala said that the introduction of the Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMS) had helped to reduce physical movement of cash to make payments and curb corruption.
She said that the Integrated Personnel Payment System had also helped government to remove ghost workers from the system and save money in the process.
She said, “We have been able to weed out about 62,893 ghost workers till date saving N208.7 billion and we have not finished in the system. That is addressing the root cause.“
The minister said that the names of the persons found to be involved in the act had been sent to the ICPC for further action.
OKonjo-Iweala said that through the electronic wallet system introduced by the Ministry of Agriculture, government had been able to reduce corruption in fertilizer distribution in the country.
According to her, 10.5 million farmers have been registered under the system with more than 6 million being able to access the product personally.
This, she said, had contributed to increased food production.
The minister said that with the creation of the Pension Transmission Administration Department as demanded by law, issues with old pension were being handled systematically
She said that 14 people were presently under trial for various pension scams in the country.
Commenting on the outcome of the forensic Audit on the alleged 20 billion dollars missing oil money, she said the ministry had written to the NNPC asking it to remit the amount as directed by the auditors. (NAN)
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Funny enough. You people should give way for Buhari and see if the system is there or not.
ReplyDeleteU should advice ur boss 2 accept defeat and c how even personality can fight coruption. buhari can suprise u.
ReplyDeleteNgozi, your boss Jonathan is too corrupt to know how to fight corruption. We need to stop wasting our time with him, with you, with Deziani-madueke, and with all the hoard of rogues that cicle him..
ReplyDeleteNigerians demonstrated their capacity to fight corruption by voting Goodluck the candidate they thought would set the system in place. Systems are built by people and not the other way round. Unfortunately, not only does he lack the will to fight corruption or the sense to set tye system in place, but the women in his household are the key perpetrators of the corruption.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, for you to see Jona thru mama, she would personally collect any small change you have. Secondly, for any economic issue, the contract for consultation goes thru the coordinating minister of corruption. Lastly, the refineries are being prepped for auction to family and friends of the minister of those resources.
It's a prisoners dilemma we've found ourselves.
Nigerians demonstrated their capacity to fight corruption by voting Goodluck the candidate they thought would set the system in place. Systems are built by people and not the other way round. Unfortunately, not only does he lack the will to fight corruption or the sense to set tye system in place, but the women in his household are the key perpetrators of the corruption.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, for you to see Jona thru mama, she would personally collect any small change you have. Secondly, for any economic issue, the contract for consultation goes thru the coordinating minister of corruption. Lastly, the refineries are being prepped for auction to family and friends of the minister of those resources.
It's a prisoners dilemma we've found ourselves.
tht is frm d horses mouth, ur boss is nt capable, he lacks sense of direction.
ReplyDeleteWhat is this woman talking about. What is she doing if after many years in service as FM she still does not have Corruption / Leakage prevention strategy. Put the system in place and stop all this melodrama.
ReplyDeleteWhether we like it or not, one cannot fight the truth.
ReplyDeleteGEJ is a patholigical liar and a highly deceptive individual.
GEJ secured the PDP 2011 mandate by deception (i.e. 419) in that without being compelled, he declared his intention not to seek for second term and declared with his mouth that his tenure will end May 2015 with BBC UK also carrying the story on 01/02/2011. That means, GEJ committed 419.
I have checked and confirmed via google that this story is still on BBC UK website.
Based on the promise and declaration by GEJ back in 2011, Nigerians voted for him, then suddenly his true 419 color showed. Not only did he underperformed, he also condoned corruption even more than NPN back in the 1979-1983.
Let's face the fact, GEJ belongs to the father of liars. He now leads a propaganda outfit to swindle Nigerians at all cost.
If someone is pathologically deceitful, it will dangerous to rely on any of his words or to ever take the fellow seriously or believe in the fellow in anyway.
Have you heard what he told the world, he said the Ekitigate tape is fabrication, and that is why he will not investigate or probe it. Amazingly deceitful and stupid (please pardon my French language). The simple question then is, how did GEJ determine that the tapes were fabricated in the light of all the evidences and forensic confirmation of the voices coupled with admission on part of some of the individuals involved that indeed they held the secret meeting.
Indeed, a leader may have at his/her disposal the People’s cum Nation's resources to spend (and even squander) all in the name of Projects. However, there are crucial things that a leader on his/her own part must bring to that table/seat of leadership which are namely, righteousness, honesty, integrity, character (must be a man/woman of his/her words either in secret or in the open), hatred for sin, hatred for corruption, hatred for hypocrisy, courage (not an ostrich like leader that will be busy burying head in the sand), empathy, etc.
The Bible in Proverbs 6:16-19 states that;
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Assessing GEJ on all the aforementioned shows that God can never and will never support and individual like GEJ unless God himself is a liar which can never be so.
GEJ is morally bankrupt, that is a truth that we cannot fight or else we will never be free. Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. It’s only righteousness that will exalt our Nation and I will never accept anything less from any leader voted into power.
I bet my millions on this fact that by the time GEJ is out of power, the new Government will be saddled with huge sums of promissory notes on contracts that have been implemented at ridiculously inflated prices in order for GEJ to try impressing Nigerians within a span of just few months after seeing he has been rejected by us.
GEJ is seriously mounting massive internal debt on Nigerians via hurriedly negotiated contracts at whatever cost in order to fool Nigerians.
GEJ is continuously secretly on a daily basis plunging us into more debt that it will take many generations to repay.
GEJ should have taken the noble part and sponsor someone else as PDP Presidential Candidate rather than wasting millions of precious Naira all in the name of Transformation Agenda Propaganda.
GEJ should have been a man of his words.
Me believe all the story (write up) above are in order.
ReplyDeleteThey were carefully articulated, hmm.
Thank you anonymous. May you days be long
May your days be long
ReplyDeleteYou will observe that all politicians have moved to APC. If APC wins the elections, the politicians will now be in charge of the ministries and parastatals. That will certainly stop corruption in Nigeria!
ReplyDeleteSince u cant stop corruption,i wonder why u pple are remainning in power.No corrupt country ever developed.'Please allow others to try.
ReplyDelete