- The presidency has warned political appointees, government officials and party men against influence peddling and extortion
- Malam Garba Shehu warned that the president would not tolerate any conduct by anybody to use his name to extort innocent people
- The media aide advised Nigerians to report any government official or appointees using the president's name or that of his aides and appointees to extort the public
The Nigerian presidency has issued a stern warning to political appointees, government officials and party men against influence peddling for corrupt pecuniary gains and other forms of extortion.
Malam Garba Shehu, the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, told State House Correspondents on Tuesday, December 25, in Abuja that complaints of extortions of innocent people by what he called "self-serving name droppers and influence peddlers" is causing increasing embarrassment to the presidency.
According to Shehu: "President Buhari had made it very clear since his inauguration that he won't tolerate any form of impropriety by his appointees, aides, and government officials who abuse and misuse their offices for illegal financial advantages."
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The media aide explained that using one's office or influence for private advantage or financial gains is corruption, warning that "the President would not tolerate any conduct by anybody to use his name to extort innocent people."
He stressed that President Buhari's commitment to the fight corruption at all fronts in his government remains unchanged, adding that "those who are not genuinely committed to this vision would be weeded out once caught and punished accordingly."
The media aide advised Nigerians to report any government official or appointees using the president's name or that of his aides and appointees to extort the public, adding that the current zero tolerance for corruption by the Buhari administration won't condone this repugnant culture in government or public business.
In a previous report by Legit.ng, reports have claimed that federal government received the report of the committee set up to investigate allegations of fraud against the executive secretary of the national health insurance scheme, Usman Yusuf.
Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation, who received the report in his office, promised Nigerians that it would be expeditiously processed for implementation.
Mustapha said: “I receive this report with deep sense of appreciation and I assure you that the report would be expeditiously processed for implementation.
Source: Legit.ng
