Delta blasts British Govt; says it aids, abet corruption

THE Delta State Government Tuesday stated that the accusation by British Prime Minister, David Cameron that Nigeria and Afghanistan are fantastically corrupt is because the British Government aided and abet corruption . 

The criticism was made by the State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah during the maiden colloquium organized by the Faculty of Social Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka‎ Ukah who was represented by Chief Information Officer of Information, Mr. Egbadju Akpomuvie said, “It is not only Nigeria that is fantastically corrupt, the British Government is also corrupt because they aid and abet corruption.” 

He noted that corruption is not for Government and the private sector alone. The Delta State Government urged Deltans to shun every corrupt tendencies that are inimical to the growth and development of the state, noting that mechanisms have been put in place in line with the Governor Arthur Ifeanyi’s SMART Agneda for all. 

The Government commended the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victor Peretomode and Management, especially the Faculty of Social Sciences, for organizing the colloquium.

In a paper presentation titled “ Corruption and Underdevelopment in Nigeria”, keynote speaker, Prof. Samuel Igbatayo declared that with the announcement of about of ten billion dollars in cash and assets recovered from the looters, the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government has demonstrated government’s seriousness in tackling corruption. Lamenting that corruption has impacted negatively on both economic growth and development in Nigeria particularly over the past few decades.

Igbatayo stressed that corruption has taken a very dangerous dimension called calls for various government intervention to nip it in the bud. Igbatayo said “Unintended government policies driving corruption such as subsidy, social cultural issues, payment of non-living wage to public servants as well as trade restriction.

 “People who are willing to pay the premium price are desperate because it drives up the prices of some commodities and goods and people are willing to pay the premium price for it.” 

The eggheaad suggested that whistle blowers in Government should be encouraged with the provision of financial and promotional incentives as well as give serious considerations to their welfare in terms of security.