No good governance without poverty eradication – ICPC boss, Nta

The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Barr. Ekpo Nta has said that no good governance can be reasonably achieved without poverty eradication.
Ekpo Nta stated this during the launch of the Cross River State Anti-corruption Summit on Wednesday in Calabar, Cross River State.

The summit tagged; “Institutionalization of good governance for sustainable development,” was held as part of ICPC’s effort to take the anti-corruption war to the states, which the anti-graft chairman said, was a way of preventing, rather than fighting corruption.
According to him, if the States properly chart an anti-corruption agenda, it will lead to the “promotion of integrity, transparency and accountability through exploring innovative solutions and new technologies and by strengthening international cooperation.”
He said the State had enjoyed the goodwill of donor partners and can attract more if it believed and actually see transparency in its operations and use of donor funds.

“ICPC firmly believes in strengthening institutions as a prerequisite for sustainable development, good governance and the rule of law.
“We want to eradicate the ‘I didn’t know’ excuse for promoting corruption in this country to the one of ‘consequences for what you are aware of”, he said.
On his part, the Provost of the Anti-corruption Academy of Nigeria, Prof. Sola Akinrinade said the promotion of anti-corruption values at the level of state government, including the local government, represented a critical step in the move to enthrone transparency, accountability, integrity and ethical values.

“The past two years plus has witnessed a new commitment to vigorously prosecuting the war against corruption.
“However, for the war to have the desired impact nationally, the role of states in complementing the efforts cannot be ignored,” he explained.