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Tuesday, 10 December 2013

Corruption Destroying Our Economy – Okonjo-Iweala

Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala yesterday said corruption was destroying the nation’s economy and called on the nation’s private sector to support the federal government in its war against corruption and other areas of economy where  wastages occur.
The minister who made the appeal  during a Breakfast Dialogue with the Private sector organised by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Lagos, said the problem of  corruption, theft and wastages has constituted an albatross to the country’s rapid development.
Okonjo -Iweala at a meeting that attracted business moguls and technocrats like  the richest man in Africa Alhaji Aliko Dangote, founder of  Visafone Communication Limited, Chief Jim Ovia, Chairman Stanbic IBTC  Mr. Atedo Peterside, the Managing Director of Bank of Industry Dr.  Evelyn Oputu, among others lamented that  government was not getting enough support from the private sector in terms of robust policy implementation
“Corruption is a serious issue for us because it is destroying our country, eating deep into the fabrics of the economy, we can’t have infrastructure and development with these level of corruption.”
“We are not helpless, but we need your help to grow the economy and it will begin with the private sector joining hands to help government fight corruption, mismanagement and waste in government.
“It begins with you to say I would not pay bribe, not only will I not pay, I will report to authorities, also by  supporting those trying to fight corruption, not castigating those trying to fight it, where we are not doing well point it out to us, anywhere you see wastage report to us,  we would do something about it,” she added.

The minister added that the fight was not for one individual or government noting that corruption was also rampart in the private sector.

“We need to have the courage to start the corruption fight, fighting corruption is not an easy thing, because you risk a lot of things but you must continue to fight it, she decleared”
Harping on the state of the nation’s economy the minister whose presentation dwelt on “ Nigeria : Macroeconomics Performance And Outlook For 2014 “ said Inflation was 7.8% at the end of October showing a continual downward trend for the 10th consecutive month, down from 12.3% in December 2012 .

LeadershipNGA

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