No hiding place for corrupt ministers – Jonathan

Posted by admin Latest Politics, Ministries Friday, July 15th, 2011

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday admonished ministers wishing to enrich themselves while in office, to have a rethink, as neither himself nor Vice President Namadi Sambo would be a shield for anyone found wanting by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Throwing more light on what Nigerians should expect in the next four years, President Jonathan assured that as a first step toward growing the economic, his administration would strive to enhance high budget performance, saying that “we’ll try to implement 100% of our budget from next year”.

The President handed down the warning barely 24 hours after he ordered a comprehensive audit of all financial transactions by all ministers who served from 2007 to date.

Speaking at the opening of a two-day Induction for Ministers, Special Advisers and Permanent Secretaries at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Jonathan stated that each of the cabinet members would be held accountable for his or her actions and inactions.

He said “public funds are meant for good and I am quiet please to note that this administration’s fidelity to the rule of law is common knowledge because neither the Vice President not I will offer protection to anyone in government whose integrity is called to question.

This is in a nutshell I expect from you. If for any reason whatsoever you do not remember anything I have said to you today, then please just remember this, that I promised Nigerians I will never let them down during my campaigns, because that was my promise that should also be your promise, go forth to your various field and fulfilled that promise.

“I expect budget implementation to continue to improve even though we know he have challenges this year but my conviction is that from next year forward we will try to implement 100 per cent of our capital project. We are not here to reinvent the wheel, while the particular model of governance has succeeded in bringing cabinets to help we must not hesitate to draw lessons from it’s success. We must also try to implore revolutionary leadership of the governances of our MDAs to make them work”.

He warned ministers and other government functionaries that the administration will not protect any corrupt minister; saying that public funds are meant for the public good and also it should be judiciously used.

The president also charged the ministers to work hard to ensure that Nigerians are not disappointed in line with his campaign promise; and asked the ministers to adopt his promise not to let down Nigerians as their watch words.

Terrors must face the law
As a government that believes in the sanctity of life and rule of law, anyone who takes up arms against the state must be ready to face the wrath of the law.

“There those who have take up arms against the state, we must be ready to do whatever is necessary within the scope of the rule of law to bring about peace.

We are pleased that this administration has obeyed court orders, we expect that every government functionaries will respect the sanctity of our constitution and follow due process in the discharged of assigned duties.

In addition, I also expect that we will collectively uphold the finest qualities of a democratic governance by attracting collective responsibility, as long as we take a decision to formulate a policy I this chambers, every one of us must hold and defend that decision or policy”.

-Vanguardwp_posts