FG Committed To Explore Culture Of Accountability
The President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration of the Federal Government of Nigeria has reiterated its resolve to continue to explore the culture of accountability for the sustainable development of the country.
Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made this known in Abuja, during the Quarterly Public Lecture organised by the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), on Thursday, 5th October, 2017 at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre with the theme: “Culture, Accountability and National Development”.
Represented by the Director (International Cultural Relations), Mr. Augustus Ajibola, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, while commending the leadership of the Institute for organising the public lecture, which aims at sensitising Nigerians on the need to imbibe the culture of accountability for good governance, said the theme of the lecture was not only apt but also timely, considering the fact that it aligns with the Change Agenda of President Buhari administration.
His words: “You are aware that tackling corruption is one of the cardinal points in the change mantra; and government will continue to explore the culture of accountability for the sustainable development of the Nigerian nation”.
According to him, if Nigerians, especially public servants, can imbibe the culture of accountability, it will help them to be more productive, creative and also contribute to furthering organisational goals without which the operations of government can quickly devolve into chaos with exponential impacts.
Further stressing that the culture of accountability can promote awareness on the importance of good governance, Lai Mohammed maintained that the present administration recognises the fact that no nation can achieve any meaningful development without the culture of accountability; which informs why government has taken positive steps by embarking on several campaigns like the “Change Begins With Me” geared towards promoting attitudinal change while instilling discipline and patriotism in Nigerians; the Due Process in Procurement; the Treasury Single Account (TSA); and the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) among others.
On his part, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Culture and Tourism, Hon. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, who acknowledged the intrinsic relationship between culture, accountability and national development, said there is need to institutionalise the culture of transparency and accountability in governance like other advanced countries of the world have done.
While giving the assurance that the National Assembly, as a critical arm of government and especially the House Committee on Culture and Tourism, will not rest on its oars till a culture of accountability is fully entrenched in the body polity, Hon. Omoregie reiterated that the Committee is committed to ensuring that our cherished cultural values are revived and given due respect.
He therefore said the only way out is for NICO and other institutions of government, civil society organisations, and religious bodies to continuously organise sensitisation workshops and seminars to educate the general public on the negative consequences of the neglect of our culture and the entrenchment of a culture of impunity.
Caleb Nor
Media Assistant to ES
NICO HQ, Abuja-FCT