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My govt has zero-tolerance
for corruption �
Obasanjo
By Muyiwa
Dare
Maritime
Reporter,
Calabar
President Olusegun Obasanjo
has restated for the umpteenth time that his government is committed to
its stance of zero tolerance for corruption and that there would not be
any sacred cow.
Represented by Cross River
State Governor Donald Duke, Obasanjo said this at the opening of the 2004
comptroller-general�s yearly conference of the Nigerian Customs Service
with the theme Customs Reforms:
Realities and Challenges.
The president listed the establishment of the Independent
Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission as clear manifestations of government�s
determination to entrench transparency and accountability in the
polity.
His words: �This should therefore go out as a
warning to all those compromised and corrupted members of the service and
the larger-society. Change
your ways or prepare to face the full weight of the
law.�
He explained that since the
inception of the administration, it has relentlessly pursued a
comprehensive economic reform agenda adding that a key component of the
economic reform process is the privatisation and commercialisation of
state owned industrial enterprises, as well as the restructuring and
reforming of the infrastructure sector for public-private
partnership.
�This overall goal is to open
markets, strengthen institutions, ensure stability and predictability,
expand productivity, generate wealth and create jobs. The on-going reform agenda is
designed to enhance stability, growth, development and democracy. This
requires substantial attitudinal change, institutional re-organisation and
policy re-orientation�.
�The strategy of government is
to pave way for the country to emerge as an enterprising open economy that
will win the confidence of investors. These reforms will ultimately make
Nigeria a strong actor in the global divisions of labour and power and
unleash the creative capacities of our people and expand opportunities for
local and foreign investors�, the president
explained.
He commended the present
leadership of the Customs Service for putting in place the far-reaching
measures aimed at institutionalising quality service delivery and
improving the tenets of transparency, accountability, efficiency and
effectiveness.
He however added that a lot
still requires to be done as the spirit of reform could not be said to
have been imbibed by the generality of the service�s officers and men,
saying that one major area of concern is the specter of
corruption.
�It is evident that today�s
management of the customs service is loyal, dedicated, efficient, focused
and committed to the fight against indolence, waste and corruption. I commend you all for your new
disposition. I am aware that
the service is looking into ways of improving the welfare of its officers
and men. I assure you to be
patient so that a thorough job will be done�.
�I urge the Nigeria Customs
Service to minimize malpractice by embarking on strategic segregation of
functions and encourage professionalism. There should be regular review of
the operational and integrity strategies of your work force in order to
identify areas of weaknesses and rectify them. Government is aware of the factors
militating against your efforts in enhancing revenue collection and
combating smuggling. We will
continue to provide support the customs service requires in order to
effectively tackle the challenges ahead. In return, we expect an effective,
efficient and corrupt-free customs service befitting of the twenty first
century�, the President assured.
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