Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), Nigeria’s former Head of State, Monday night in London, said the fight against corruption in Nigeria was beyond the capacity of any government because the scourge was deeply rooted in the nation.

Buhari, who stated this at the 4th British-African Diaspora Conference on the theme Stable Democracy and Nigeria’s Economy, held at the British House of Parliament, said corruption still remained the old and ever present devil that had eaten into all facets of life in the country.

He said: “Until serious efforts are made to tackle corruption, which is beyond the capacity of the government, economic growth and stability will continue to elude us.”

Emphasising the need for the cooperation of all Nigerian, he quoted the Chairman of one of the bodies responsible for the task of fighting corruption in Nigeria, Mr. Ekpo Nta of the ICPC, in a recent interview as saying that “there is no political will to fight corruption in Nigeria.”

He said this stresses the need for all hands to be on deck in a collective fight to eliminate the scourge. Buhari, however, said Nigeria had the capacity to emerge as an economically competitive nation.

He said “democracy” cannot function optimally without a certain level of economic attainment. He also spoke on a wide range of issues from state creation to zoning system, while expressing concern over INEC, and the 2015 general elections.

According to him, the present leadership of the electoral body is incapable of delivering a fair election, as it had a cosy relationship with the executive and the judiciary.

He said: “INEC requires a group of independent minded people, patriotic and incorruptible, who have the courage and the capacity to handle such a strenuous assignment of conducting elections in Nigeria.”

Speaking on poverty and wealth creation, the former Head of State, and founder of the Congress for Progressive Congress, CPC, said there was no short cut to poverty eradication than to get people to work and earn money.

… as FG assures PHCN staff of benefits

BY Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

ABUJA—Federal Government, yesterday, assured workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, that there was no cause for alarm over the payment of their severance benefits, as the implementation committee raised by the administration was still working on the matter.

The workers had become agitated that the government announced a unilateral sum of N384 billion for payment of their benefits without engaging them in the process.

However, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, told Vanguard in an exclusive interview, that the workers had no reason to worry as the government was conscious of the need to pay them appropriate benefits as stipulated in the agreement reached between them and the government.

Wogu explained that all portions of the agreement reached with the workers would be implemented to the letter as a mark of government’s commitment to transparency and accountability in the privatisation process.

He said: “First, there was an agreement between the government and labour and the items of agreement were noted down and signed.

“At the end of the day, those agreed portions will definitely be monetised. Secondly, there are agencies of government involved in the calculation.

“The central body that plays a central role in the whole process is the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPE. There is an implementation Committee that is working on the matter.

“Already, we are planning to meet with labour to discuss it. The committee is still doing its work and any matter that arises will be handled.”