Bulletproof corruption

The hearings have revealed much about the thought process of those in high places. The Aviation Minister “thought” her ambiguous instruction to “do the needful” meant due process would be followed. The Chairman Coscharis Motors Cosmos “thought” there was nothing wrong in using a duty waiver issued to Lagos State Government to import cars for […]

The hearings have revealed much about the thought process of those in high places. The Aviation Minister “thought” her ambiguous instruction to “do the needful” meant due process would be followed. The Chairman Coscharis Motors Cosmos “thought” there was nothing wrong in using a duty waiver issued to Lagos State Government to import cars for NCAA.  The former Acting MD NCAA “thought” a loan facility and a lease were the same thing. The Deputy Comptroller of Customs “thought” the vehicles were covered by the duty waiver. The Director of Finance NCAA “thought” incurring a debt of N122 million to be paid as interest to the bank was “prudent cash flow management”. The permanent Secretary in the Aviation Ministry “thought” when the memo came to the minister for approval due process had been followed. There was so much thinking going on and so little reasoning. But truthfully none of them were thinking at all they were only assuming. How come not one of them “thought” to ask or “thought” to find out the correct procedure? The whole mess is symptomatic of the financial impropriety in MDA’s where they appropriate money for items specified in the budget then spend it exactly as they please. The national budget is a legal document passed by the National Assembly and approved by the president.  Before it’s passed government sets out economic and fiscal targets, prescribes priority thrusts, prepares detailed financial plans for MDA’s, submits them for review and approval by Cabinet, and finally sends the proposed budget to the legislature after which the budget then becomes the appropriation act which is a law. Given this legal backing and considering the time consuming and costly processes involved it is disgraceful and fraudulent that the executive arm of government continues to treat the whole process as a mere formality with no bearing on real expenditure plans. The President and his ministers behave as if our common wealth is their personal property to spend as they please. The major failure of the anti-corruption war in Nigeria is our acceptance of ethical and moral laxity in our leaders. Public Service ethics are principles that guide public officials in right and wrong behaviour when executing policy. Fundamental to these principles is the notion that decisions and actions are based on what best serves the public interest as opposed to the official’s personal, financial or political interest. It’s often been said that Nigerian leaders are unprincipled and unethical. They simply adore the trappings of office but fail to understand the responsibilities, sacrifices and ethics of leadership. The Director of Finance in NCAA had the effrontery to defend their decision to incur an unapproved N100 million debt for the nation on interest payments claiming that taking the unapproved loan “would leave money to do other things”. Herein lays the fraud. What other things? It stands to reason that since the loan was not officially approved NCAA would have to budget for the purchase of more new vehicles next year only to use the money to meet the loan repayments on the existing vehicles. Even in 2015 they would have to lie and deceive the National Assembly in order to get the funds to meet final payment. Supposing there was no approval for new vehicles next year where would the money come from?  Perhaps the cost would be hidden under vehicle maintenance subheading. How long has this being going on? Is the reason we see applications for purchase of new vehicles annually?  How come the oversight committees never knew?  Commentators have severally complained about “low characters in high places” and this seems to be the bane of PDP appointments. It’s been one long story of sleaze, incompetence, distain for due process, personal aggrandizement, and failure sacrifice for the common good. It’s obvious that Ms Oduah is no worse than the rest of them. She has shown contempt for the National Assembly by deciding to bypass budgetary approvals and do exactly what she wants. This is not unusual. She has caused debts to be incurred for the nation without prior approval of the legislature or federal Executive Council. This is not unusual. She has approved expenditure way above her limit and approved the purchase of overpriced assets. This is not unusual. She has shielded the operations of her ministry from the eyes of the Bureau for Public Procurement. This is also very normal. Irrespective of what may or may not happen to Ms Stella Oduah nothing will change. Impunity and unethical conduct have become the norm in government and far more than the cars themselves it is Nigerian corruption that is bullet proof! There is an ethical dilemma in Nigerian leadership. Contractors regularly donate houses and office blocks to governors, ministers, and the president. Members of the National Assembly regularly receive gifts and monies from MDA’s they are supposed to supervise. First Ladies operate NGO’s without accountability and receive massive government donations. Senior civil servants become multi-millionaires. Public property is routinely transferred to the ownership of political appointees. And budgets contain outrageous sums for buildings, maintaining vehicles, meals, travelling, and logistics associated with official junketing. The anti-corruption war has long since been abandoned and the EFCC has been castrated. A President who fails to publicly declare his assets and pardons a convicted treasury looter can hardly be said to be setting a good example. The nation would be better served if political appointees stopped justifying moral and ethical laxity as a way of life and became more responsive to public opinion. President Jonathan should act now to ensure his team live up to ethical standards that will truly transform the nation.