Having observed series of diversions of funds meant for economic growths and development in Kwara state by the immediate past administration of Ahmed AbdulFattah, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has resolved to partner the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to recover looted funds to the state treasury and fight corruption, generally.
Govrrnor Abdulrazaq said corruption had almost crippled Kwara state when he took over on May 29, 2019 as series of fund diversions were recorded during the tenures of immediate administration, alleging that a whooping sum of N2 billion meant to be accessed to boost micro, small and medium-scale businesses in the state was diverted and shared by some persons within the past administration.
AbdulRazaq, who was physically worried at a stakeholders’ forum held in Ilorin, the state capital, on value reorientation and the fight against corruption, organised by the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency, declared that Kwara state government would be refunding the said fund every month with a N35 million deduction.
He said, “I got a letter (last week) from the Federal Ministry of Finance saying they will now deduct N35m every month from our account because the state government, a few years ago, took N2 billion for small and medium-scale businesses.”
The governor said he contemplated asking the Ministry to compile the names of individuals who siphoned the money so they could be made to refund it, adding however that he was glad at the proactive steps that the EFCC had taken to recover the money.
Abdulrazaq warned that he would not tolerate diversion of public funds under his watch, recalling how corruption had led to the collapse of basic amenities in the hospitals, schools, and other sectors of the state economy.
The governor also lamented that the state has missed out on several development initiatives because of corruption, citing the example of the diversion of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funds, which resulted into blacklisting of the state based on the action and the resultant bad effect on the condition of basic education in Kwara state.
He stated that the state under him had normalised relations with UBEC and would soon, on paying its own counterpart funds, access money that would help reposition the sector.
Speaking earlier at the programme, the EFCC Zonal Head in Kwara State, Isyaku Sharu, called for reorientation of the populace on the menace of corruption.
“Can we overemphasise the role of our parents/guardians in these regards? I state no. In fact, a critical aspect of the need for value reorientation rests heavily on parental/guardian roles. The home, being the first point of contact of a child, is the factory house for building positive values in a child.
“Sadly, however, most parents/guardians are now being found wanting in this all-important responsibility wherein they usually concentrate more efforts on their jobs or businesses or the struggle to make ends meet.”
SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin
