Former Minister of State for Finance, Mr. Remi Babalola has said that to curb corruption in the country, public office holders must declare their assets publicly before and after leaving office.
He also added that the Federal government should ensure that it published all its audited accounts and quarterly accounts like all listed companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
Babalola said this while presenting a paper on “Achieving the Nigeria of Our Dream: The Responsibility of Professional Accountants”, at the opening of the 45th Annual Accountants Conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
He said “Our culture of impunity is the bane of the entrenched corruption in our society. The value destruction and corruption undermine any economic development or social change we may aspire for our nation.
“Mismanagement and misallocation of resources, coupled with an unprecedented level of corruption have been at their highest in the history of our nation in the last six years.
“Performance or success in public space was measured by the conversion rate of public funds into private accounts. It looks as if democracy has been substituted with kleptocracy.”
He urged the National Assembly, Judiciary, Media, Labour Unions, Civil Societies Organisations, student Unions and Professional Groups to join President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war.