BY MOSES NOSIKE
Bldr, Chucks A. Omeife, FNIOB, CEO, Integrated Project Management Consult/Build Consults Ltd., President, Nigerian Institute of Building

Yes, the  subsidy probe and all its  attention is a welcome development. But I’m not too enthusiastic about the outcome bearing in mind how the outcome of similar probes has gone!

It is highly instructive for those in power to know that the cup of corruption and mismanagement is becoming full and that if definite action is not taken, it will be a great let down by this government to Nigerians.

Omeife

While some of the findings as reported might be alarming, it is important for the executive to institute further investigation so that the innocent ones will not suffer unjustly.

With the report of such probes, I think that Nigerians in positions of trust will be more careful in doing things knowing fully well that they could be exposed in the future.

No doubt, our democracy is growing and we have started the journey of self recovery as against the high level  impunity that this country has witnessed in past.

The level of greed and obscene primitive acquisition of wealth by some Nigerians in high places  is unfortunate.

This brings one to the point of wondering at the level of sanity of these individuals and their cohorts! I definitely think that some Nigerians in high places are indeed insane and need psychiatric attention.

Godwin Ehigiamusoe, Managing Director, LAPO

We have to commend the House Committee that did the findings. It was an excellent work looking at the report.

The next step for us as a nation is for those who have the responsibility for the implementation of the report to take steps.First of all, they should go through the report and determine whether there are genuine cases of people that need to be retained.

Godwin Ehigiamusoe

And secondly, there should be specific action against those that are found incompetent. Doing it is important because one of the things we must do as a nation to further the transformation agenda of the President is that appropriate sanctions are given out to people who in one way or the other breach our laws and regulations.

On the feeling by Nigerians that the desired result might not come out of this report, lets first give the administration the benefit of doubt that  we have a transformation government.

The implication of that is that we talk about transformation, that things are not going to be done the way it’s always been done. However, it’s too early for people to speculate that it will be business as usual. This is like a test for the transformation credential of Mr President.

What do you think Mr President should  do to prevent such occurrence in the future?

I don’t know but the truth is this, I know there are a lot of regulators and checks and balances institution of businesses including the government. I remember when I started my career in government, they have what is called financial instruction. I think those government agencies have those rules that are quite clear. Even the subsidy process of payment obviously must have a set of rules.

I think the challenge is that those rules are breached, and the only way to stop  that is to sanction any breach of rules.

Akintokunbo Adejumo, Global Coordinator, Champions For Nigeria Organisation.

Enough is enough, we know, but sadly, we have been crying ourselves hoarse for the past three decades. The leadership of Nigeria is equated with corruption, mismanagement, bribery, and a distinctive type of politics and democracy that translates into an avenue to steal.

The civil service, as seen by the Pension Fund scandal and now the NNPC, PPPRA and Dept of Petroleum Resources are veritable conduits and bedrocks of corruption in this country. Can you imagine what the money they have stolen can do for the children and youths of this country?

Enough has been said about what we have always known to be true in Nigeria but we always avoid it. Those government departments and agencies that have been indicted in the Oil Subsidy Probe have been short-changing Nigerians ever since oil was discovered.

Akintokunbo Adejumo

It was not done overnight. If we decide to investigate further back to, say, 1980, the figures that will crop up will be mind-boggling.

For the President to regain some measure of dignity and trust from his people,this is an opportunity to transmute what he always says about looking after our interest into reality. This is a chance for him to regain our trust and love.

He will be advised, mis-advised, threatened, pressured and lobbied by a devious and insidious combination of  politicians and civil servants who are neck deep in this scandal, by fraudulent oil marketers and by others who see their interests threatened.

Mr President has to show that the buck stops at his desk. He can make decisions that will set the country back on the road to progress.

He must decisively deal with individuals in these departments; it is not NNPC or PPPRA that are stealing our money, it is the officials in those departments.