PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday said the fight against corruption was not what the government alone could handle.
He said there was need for joint efforts to fight the evil which he noted was still going on in both public and private institutions.
Speaking while declaring open the 54th annual conference of the Nigerian Economic Society (NSE), Jonathan, however, assured that his administration would continue to strengthen anti-corruption agencies in the country to strengthen the corruption fight.
The president hinted that his administration targeted building institutions, and plans using the instrument of rule of law as a framework to tackle corruption.
He disclosed that the anti-graft agencies have been repositioned to adopt more effective, efficient and transparent way of managing corruption and corrupt practices, while expressing regret that Nigerians, through their actions still reward corruption, by celebrating those who enriched themselves through dubious means, despite reforms aimed at fighting corrupt practices by government.
He said, “We believe that we should not create an environment where people would be tempted to take what belongs to the public because that is why even in the fertiliser business we talk about electronic wallet so that funds are not exposed to corrupt people.
“When you talk about corruption, the private sector is involved; the public sector is involved; even the individuals including other societies and I wouldn’t want to mention names so that I will not be attacked.
“But I know that if collectively all of us don’t reward corruption, people would not be attracted to corrupt practices but when we all reward corruption, then of course we will be tempted to go in that direction.
“I want a society where all of us will frown upon people who come up with what they are not supposed to have.
“If a young man who just started a job and within six months or a year comes up with a car of N7 million to N15 million and you clap for him, then you are rewarding corruption.
“So for us as a nation to bring corruption down in Nigeria, it is not just blaming government or blaming police but all individuals must frown upon people who have what they are not supposed to have, who live in houses they are supposed not to live in; who drive cars they are not supposed to drive and who wear suits that are more expensive.
“And until us as Nigerians are able to do this, then invariably we are all rewarding corruption and until we stop that, I don’t think we will get to where we want to go.
“Our efforts at strengthening the capacity of state institutions at fighting corruption is not limited to granting independence to EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies.
“It extends to developing affordable finance for housing, car ownership, etc as we believe that taking measures to help a realise aspirations to own their own homes and fund those things that make life easier can also aid the fight against corruption.
“In the area of management of government finances, for many years, the process has been manual-government officials carry documents and files from one office to another.
“This manual systems created opportunities for corrupt leakages and also introduced many ghost workers and ghost pensioners to the payrolls.
“Today, we have put in place modern computerized systems and processes to manage the government payroll and also the government finances.”


http://tribune.com.ng/news2013/index.php/en/news/item/21835-corruption-not-what-government-can-fight-alone-%E2%80%94jonathan.html


Na wa oh,so all those working in Oil companies that earned such money are corrupt?

But the President is right after all. Owing to our religious inclination, churches and mosques are the best places for the fight to start.
But the spiritual leaders they never care what one earns or do for a living provided he is 'faithful' to paying dues and others.

5

psucc: But the President is right after all. Owing to our religious inclination, churches and mosques are the best places for the fight to start.
But the spiritual leaders they never care what one earns or do for a living provided he is 'faithful' to paying dues and others.

I agree with you ,no doubt, but the govt denying its citizens the right to basic amentities is corruption in the highest order as well.

True talk my president but nevertheless, i want the fight against corruption to start from the wealthy n nt ppl merely trying to feed themselves n faimilies.

I agree with you mr President. But, can your government please start it, we will gladly follow

“But I know that if collectively all of us don’t reward corruption, people would not be attracted to corrupt practices but when we all
reward corruption, then of course we will be tempted to go in that direction.

Epic fail by Mr GEJ
Has he developed amnesia to the fact that pardoning a money laundering fugitive called Mr Alarms was rewarding corruption?