JONATHAN'S MINISTER BACKS BUHARI'S ANTI GRAFT WAR

A former Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, has expressed support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war, describing the menace as a “killer” that must be fought by all Nigerians.
Mr. Nebo, who was minister under the Goodluck Jonathan regime, expressed his support in the
address he delivered at the 2015 International Conference of the Department of Accountancy, Faculty of Management Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, on Friday.
He lauded the economic reforms and developmental agenda being introduced by the Buhari-led administration.
Mr. Nebo, however, urged the president to focus his attention on the public sector financial management and the Treasury Single Account policy.
According to him, corruption is not the only socio-economic reform and development challenge in Nigeria, incompetence is another problem.
“When you put incompetent persons in positions, that is also corruption, because they cannot perform and they end up stealing the national wealth and resources”.
Mr. Nebo also charged professional accountants to help in salvaging the nation by ensuring probity, accountability and keeping of books in a way to abhor corruptions for economic sustainability and development.
However, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Joseph Ahaneku, charged accountants to teach the public how to create wealth and manage finances.
Mr. Ahaneku, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, described Nigeria as a country blessed with rich human and natural resources; a nation having all it takes to be the best in the world.
He, however, blamed the nation’s woes on corruption.
He further urged professional accountants to rise to the challenge of imparting the people with right knowledge.
Earlier, Ngozi Ijeoma, the Head, Department of Accountancy of the university, said the 2015 conference was designed to produce enduring solutions to numerous economic challenges.
She expressed optimism that the conference would come up with strategies and options for professional accountants to ensure sustainable socio-economic growth of the country.
According to her, the early economic reforms in Nigeria failed because of inconsistency and lack of implementation.
The conference is entitled: “The Challenges of Socio-Economic Reforms and Development in Nigeria: The Role of Professional Accountants”.