Nigeria Lacks Systems, Processes To Prevent Corruption – Ngozi Okonjo

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, , Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Tuesday, gave reasons corruption has persisted in the country.

According to her, the nation lacks the institutions, systems and processes that are capable of preventing corruption.
Okonjo-Iweala disclosed this in a presentation titled: “Preventing Leakages in the Nigerian Economy” at the Catholic Caritas Foundation Forum in Abuja.
She said the absence of the relevant systems and institutions capable of helping to check corruption has given 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.`
She contended that people will have no option but to do the right thing always if the necessary systems are in place to block and prevent corruption, urging youths in the country to ask the relevant questions that would help tackle corruption in the country.
The minister 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.“
According to Okonjo-Iweala, the introduction of the Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMS) has remarkably helped in reducing physical movement of cash to make payments and curb corruption while 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.“
She also added that the names of the persons found to be involved in the act had been sent to the ICPC for further action.
Continuing, she said the introduction of the electronic wallet system by the MInistry of Agriculture has also helped government to reduce corruption in fertilizer distribution in the country, adding that 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.

---

Posted: at 18-02-2015 10:44 AM (10 years ago) | Hero

TRUE TALK

Posted: at 18-02-2015 11:15 AM (10 years ago) | Hero

What shows patriotism is one’s ability to see the truth and say it just as it is. Most
Nigerians are not patriotic; one can see it from their comments. They enjoy casting and pulling down those who have given their full self to the development of this country. I wonder if anyone will want to sacrifice themselves just as Madam Ngozi did just to further the cause of development of this country. Why do we hit at the innocent? Please do not be discourage ma, it has always been a nature in humans to pull down that very person that genuinely care for them. You good works are visible keep it on.

Posted: at 18-02-2015 11:39 AM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Corruption is a more subtle way of stealing, i believe, and it is sure more malignant for its covert nature and believable balance sheets and therefore very difficult to deal with than a gun point stealing, for instance. Sentiments apart, corruption is rather asymetrical! and would require more painstaking investigation to unravel ad weed out and that's what the current administration has been doing. Say what you want, but the President is spot on in this regard.

Posted: at 18-02-2015 11:42 AM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac

But The President said..there is no corruption... they are only thieves...

Posted: at 18-02-2015 12:31 PM (10 years ago) | Newbie

hellep me ask the foolish woman what shes there for is it not to bring the CHANGE we need. she was there ranting nonsense

Posted: at 18-02-2015 02:51 PM (10 years ago) | Upcoming

who be this woman  ..you no hear your boss, GEJ say there is no corruption in Nigeria.
we only have small thieves who steal millions and billions.

Posted: at 18-02-2015 04:13 PM (10 years ago) | Hero