By Ewache Ajefu
Finance Ministry is to go into partnership with anti-corruption agencies to ensure the success of its economic reforms, especially pension management.
The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala made this disclosure when she received the acting chairman of ICPC, Mr. Ekpo Nta in her office.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told the ICPC chairman that recent public hearings at the National Assembly on pension management by various government agencies in the country had revealed high level of corruption which the present administration has vowed to deal with. She said her ministry was in the process of harmonising pension management nationwide in order to eliminate bottlenecks, check corruption and ensure a more efficient management through the use of information technology.
In order to develop a strong muscle necessary for the execution of this type of economic reform and to discourage resistance from the various pension administrators who currently manage pension services for MDAs, the Minister said a partnership with ICPC and other anti-corruption agencies would be necessary. She therefore appealed to the chairman of ICPC to be ready to assist the Ministry in the difficult task of reforming pension fund administration in the country.
Earlier on, the acting chairman of ICPC, Mr. Ekpo Nta had appealed to the Minister of Finance to assist the organization through prompt release of funds with which they could effectively execute their mandate of checking corruption and ensuring best practices in government organisations. He offered his organisation’s hand of fellowship to the Federal Ministry of Finance in its efforts to bring about transparency and efficiency in the management of the country’s finances.
