Mrs Monilola Udoh, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation(STI), says stamping out corruption is a collective responsibility.
The Permanent Secretary said this at a sensitisation workshop for staffers of the ministry on Grade Levels 15 to 17 in Abuja on Monday.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), She however underscored the urgency of stamping out corruption at work places, homes, businesses and nationally, adding that corruption undermines progress of nations.
Udoh said corruption was the major cause of poverty as people were bound to compromise easily by cutting corners for selfish gains.
She decried, ”teenage girls were tempted to sell their bodies just to make ends meet and even encouraged by their mothers to use what they have and get what they want.
“ If we collectively agree that we are going to stamp out corruptiont, our schools will begin to have books, teachers will concentrate on their teaching, hospitals will have drugs and doctors will stay.
“This is because there will be no reason to cut corners for personal gains.
“ The truth is that, if we fight corruption and we are able to solve it, then the average Nigerian will have no business being poor,’’ she said.
The permanent secretary added that improved remunerations for civil servants would go a long way towards solving personal and family financial challenges.
Udoh said: ”Corruption is a vicious circle which leads to the bottomless abyss, as the vice was all about greed and personal aggrandisement which was detrimental in all ramifications.”
She added that the workshop, with the theme: “Achieving Integrity and Zero Tolerance to Corruption in FMSTI’’, was apt and timely as the government was intensifying efforts to eradicate corrupt practices.
She said the workshop demonstrated the commitment of the ministry towards the elimination of corrupt practices, adding, ”hence the willingness of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) of the ministry to collaborate with ICPC.
`She argued that such collaboration would enable transparency and accountability drive of the federal government to be accomplished.
“As you are aware, lack of transparency and accountability in our daily operations promotes corruption which retards economic growth and good governance.
“We need to promote and sponsor programmes and activities that empower our institutions to achieve their mandates,’’ she said.
Udoh further added that law enforcement agencies needed support and encouragement to fight corruption by ensuring that disciplinary measures in the public service were applied to erring officers.
Mrs Joy Ebbah, ICPC Desk Officer to the ministry said the workshop served as a preventive tool to checkmate what corruption thrives and how to prevent it.
“Over the years, corruption had affected the civil service, but with this present administration and the efforts of the Head of Service of the Federation, work has become easy for officers of the ministry,” she said.
Ebbah said trainings have been conducted and platforms to report corrupt issues, even anonymously had been created to facilitate the process of zero-tolerance to corruption.
Mrs Stella Igwilo, Chairman of the ACTU of the ministry listed various acts of corrupt practices which were undermining accountability and transparency.
She said the ministry would continue to partner the ICPC in the discharge of its mandates.
“Through ACTU, the ministry’s management will continue to interface with the members of the public to reduce the effects of corruption by ensuring good governance for effective delivery,’’ Igwilo said.(NAN)
