President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday stressed the need for all arms of government to partner in the fight against corrupt practices in the country.
Jonathan made the call while swearing in the new Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) Mr. Okon Ntia and five new Permanent Secretaries at the Presidential Villa.
The Permanent Secretaries are Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, Alhaji Sani Bala, Dr James Obiegbu, Mr Femi Jegede and Mr. John Gana.
The president, particularly challenged the anti corruption agencies in the country to devise means of checking outright stealing of public funds by unpatriotic citizens.
“I know as somebody who read widely about animals that human beings are born greedy by nature, but we must stop people from stealing and taking what does not belong to them.
“In any society that you allow people to go loose, you see people doing the wrong thing. So, we must stop people from doing the wrong things.
“I also use this opportunity to appeal to all Nigerians for us really to confront corruption the way we want to, everybody must be involved.
“All arms of government, the judiciary, the parliament must be involved; all individuals and all corporate bodies including NGOs, civil societies, community-based organisations and even faith-based organisations.
“If people donate money to you that you are not too sure of the source of money, please, return it
“If we must fight corruption, all of us must frown at it. You don't give a chieftaincy title to somebody you don't know his source of income.
“That is my thinking; that is my belief. If you do that, you are encouraging that person to be corrupt.”
The president, who pledged never to interfere in the activities of the anti-corruption agencies, expressed confidence that the ICPC and the EFCC were in position to reduce corrupt practices in the country.
“Everyday, you hear Nigerians talk about corruption because that is why during Obasanjo’s administration, ICPC and EFCC were created or established by Acts of Parliament.
“We believe that these two agencies are in the position to reduce corruption.
“As a president, I promise you that I will give you the free hand to do your work. I will not interfere with your function.’’
Jonathan also called the newly sworn-in permanent secretaries to use their wealth of experience in bringing meaningful changes to the civil service to boost productivity among civil servants.
“Let me use this opportunity to plead with the permanent secretaries and indeed the entire civil service of the federation to work with us to make sure that we change this country.
“This country belongs to all Nigerians and we must make sure that we get to where our other contemporaries are.”
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