President Muhammadu Buhari says despite his
administration’s fight against corruption, some government agencies still
divert or refuse to fully account for revenues generated.
Buhari disclosed this during the
swearing-in of board members of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission
(ICPC) at the state house, Abuja, on Monday.
He said the ordinary people in
the country understand and support his administration’s fight against
corruption, adding that those opposing the fight against corruption are only
pretending not to know what it is.
He reminded the members that
their appointment is a call to service and critical in his government’s agenda.
“The fight against corruption is
very crucial in our national development.
This is why I have often said – if we do not kill corruption, corruption
will kill Nigeria,” he said.
“Corruption has negatively
affected our political, economic and social life. Those opposed to our fight against corruption
berate us for our focus, determination and single mindedness. They pretend that they do not know what
corruption is. But Nigerians know what corruption is. Ordinary people know what corruption is and
they support our effort and determination to fight it.
“The abuse of public office for
private gain represents corruption in its worst form. The abuse of public
office for personal benefit even if no bribery occurs is also corruption. The diversion of state revenue or
miss-application of budgeted funds falls into the same category.
“As I have noted in recent times,
despite our anti-corruption drive, some agencies of government still divert or
refuse to fully account for revenue generated.
Rather than obey constitutional provisions and extant rules and
regulations, such agencies continue as if nothing has changed.”
The president expressed his
determination to ensure that every agency of government accounts for public
revenue generated or spent.
He also reiterated his commitment
to fighting corruption in the nation.
“We are determined to ensure that
every agency of government account for public revenue generated or
expended. I am looking forward to ICPC’s
support both for enforcement of anti-corruption laws and submission of policy
measures and directives to prevent revenue leakage and diversion.
“I am particularly delighted that
the ICPC law under which you will operate is robust enough to assist government
to sanitize the public sector of corruption in service delivery, public
procurement, diversion of public revenue, deliberate misuse of public funds,
and so on.
“As the old saying goes,
‘Prevention is better than cure’. Your
statutory mandate recognizes this principle.
Therefore, I encourage you to come up with strong preventive policy
measures and strategies for government’s endorsement to take us to the NEXT
LEVEL in the fight against corruption.
“My resolve to fight corruption
remains unshaken. I assure you of my
full support in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.”
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