A former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Monday said the amount being budgeted for political office holders as security votes should be stopped.
Ribadu stated this in Abuja while delivering a lecture on “Minimising Corruption in Public Life” at the 2016 annual conference of the Nigerian Institute of Management.
He said the fight against corruption must start from the leader, adding that with a deficient leadership, it would be difficult to achieve the needed results in the fight against graft.Ribadu said while minimising corruption in the public sector was a big challenge, it should be seen as a national assignment in which all stakeholders must come together to ensure its success.
He said to effectively fight the war against corrupt practices; the issue of transparency must be taken seriously in the conduct of all government businesses from budgeting to the award of contracts and even employment.
Lack of transparency, according to him, is the first thing that sows the seed of corruption.
He said, “Corruption is a major impediment to our progress as it deprives us of our tomorrow even before the day breaks. It is stealing from us, denying us what we are entitled to and stealing from our children by leaving for them a hopeless future.
“Yet, the cancerous virus of corruption is inherent in most of us. It is the temptation to make free money, or use influence to gain undue favour or influence.
“Leadership is everything when it comes to tackling corruption in public life. It is the leader, whether political or administrative, that can set the tune for others to follow.
“A leader with soiled hands has no moral basis to question his subordinates or followers. And when the leader is involved in dirty deals it becomes a free for all.