Jonathan orders reduction of MDAs’ budgets

[Mirror]

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday ordered the immediate reduction of budgets to Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, by a wide margin. The decision was made known by the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala, during a stakeholders' meeting convened by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, on System Review of personnel cost of MDAs in Abuja.

The measure, according to the minister, is to enable government fund other critical sectors of the nation's economy between now and 2020.The decision specifically targets reduction of overhead costs of the MDAs. The minister, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, said the order would help government fund key areas such as infrastructure, among others, for the present citizens and posterity.

Okonjo-Iweala decried civil servants' claim of ignorance to laws when they perpetuate illicit acts. She also slammed them for crying against corrupt practices only when they are civil servants, but failing the citizens by getting enmeshed in the scourge when given the opportunity to serve. She lauded the ICPC for the aptness of the meeting, which she said would give strength to the decision of the President. While expressing government support for the commission, she said the meeting of the ICPC was in tandem with the transformation agenda of the present administration.

In his remark, ICPC Chairman, Ekpo Nta, said the commission carried out a system study and review of personnel costs element of about 155 federal MDAs nationwide in 2011with the intention of eliminating or reducing perceived corruption- prone processes and procedures associated with the management of the personnel cost element of public institutions and direct changes where necessary.

National Mirror