Anti Corruption Crusade
FG committed to reforms and anti-corruption
Apr 26, 2010, 16:56
| | Acting President Dr Goodluck Jonathan has reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to carry out reforms and check corruption in the country. This he said informed the strengthening of the country’s anti-corruption agencies, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, to enhance probity and accountability in governance.
Speaking at an audience he granted the US Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Mr. William Burns, on Saturday, April 24, at his official residence in the Presidential Villa, Abuja the Acting President informed the US government official that the planned reforms, which were in phases, would cut across vital areas of national life.
Dr Jonathan expressed the conviction that the on-going electoral reform will produce credible elections noting that one of its ingredients is to count the votes and declare results at the polling booths.
He affirmed that the Federal Government is fully committed to the recently established Nigeria-US Bi-National Commission, saying that committees had been set up to get it started.
Dr Jonathan noted that the flash points in the country and the Niger Delta crisis were under control disclosing that the Federal Government was making effort to create employment opportunities for the unemployed youths who were easily lured into criminal activities.
“One of the ways in which we want to arrest youth restiveness is to create jobs especially in the agricultural sector; if the youths are engaged meaningfully, the crime rate will drastically reduce,” he said.
Expressing concern over the proliferation of small arms and light weapons which he said was a major contributor to crisis in Africa, the Acting President noted that drug peddlers, pirates and other criminals use illicit arms to carry out their activities.
He also identified other problems being faced in the continent to include those posed by poor communication facilities, inadequate transportation infrastructure, and intractable maternal health problems.
In his response Mr. Burns said he came to the country to convey the best regards of President Barrack Obama to Dr Jonathan and appreciation for the constructive role and positive contributions that Nigeria made during the recently concluded nuclear summit in Washington.
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