We won’t relent until looted funds are
recovered, says Buhari
• Tasks accountants on
corruption
PRESIDENT
Muhammadu Buhari
yesterday in New
Delhi, India,
reaffirmed his
administration’s
commitment to
recovering funds
looted by corrupt
government officials,
plugging loopholes in
public sector
accounting and
deploying available
resources for the good
of all Nigerians.
Addressing members
of the Nigerian
community in India,
the president declared
that curbing
corruption, recovery
of stolen funds
and prosecution of
persons who have been
indicted for corrupt
practices will also
continue to be
vigorously pursued.
Saying he was fully
aware of the
expectations of
Nigerians who elected
him on the platform of
change, integrity,
probity and
accountability, Buhari
promised he would do
his best to meet those
expectations.
He said he expected
the ongoing recoveries
and prosecutions to
serve as a deterrent to
others who nurse the
ambition of seeking
public office solely for
illegal personal
gain. The president
assured the gathering
that his administration
fully recognized the
devastating
consequences of illegal
diversion of public
resources meant for
national development
into private bank
accounts, and is doing
all within its powers to
stop such fraudulent
practices.
The anti-corruption
campaign will be on-
going for many years.
We are committed to
enthronement of good
governance that plugs
the loopholes in public
sector accounting, and
the use of scarce
resources for public
good.
We are determined to
demonstrate
exemplary leadership
that will make our
citizens to change their
ways in a manner that
lays a solid foundation
for reconstruction and
development.
“I am confident that
our approach to
fighting corruption
through value re-
orientation, improved
internal processes and
systems and the rule of
law, as well
as enhancing the
capacity of the various
anti-corruption
agencies and
institutions, will prove
more enduring in
addressing this evil.”
At another event,
Buhari urged
professional
accountants in the
country to help
achieve desired
accelerated economic
development and
prudent management
of public funds.
Speaking yesterday, at
the opening of the
2015 yearly National
Conference of the
Association of National
Accountants of Nigeria
(ANAN) held at the
International
Conference Centre,
Abuja, the President,
who was represented
by the Permanent
Secretary, Federal
Ministry of Finance,
Mrs. Anastasia
Nwaobia, said it was
urgent that
accountants and
holders of public office
uphold the ethical
standards and
professional ethics in
the prudent
management of pubic,
funds.
He urged accountants
to also design a robust
model for proper
accounting of resource
utilisation, financial
reporting and
performance
evaluation.
“Our statute books are
replete with laws,
rules and regulations
for accountants and
accounting practice,
but we have been
unable to arrest the
tide of corruption,
which is largely aided
by unethical practices
by those whose duty it
is to uphold public
trust.’
