Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Ndubuisi Francis
 
The Federal Ministry of Finance is to partner anti-corruption agencies, including the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to ensure the success of its economic reforms, especially pension management.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, gave the indication while playing host to the acting Chairman of ICPC, Mr. Ekpo Nta, in her office.
A statement made available to THISDAY quoted the minister as telling Nta that the 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.

Her ministry, she said, 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 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), the minister said a partnership with the ICPC and other anti-corruption agencies would be necessary.

She, therefore, appealed to the ICPC chairman  to be ready to assist the ministry in the difficult task of reforming pension fund administration in the country.

Nta had earlier appealed to the minister to assist the organisation 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 nation’s finances.