Mr. Akinyemi Ashade, Lagos State Commissioner for Finance has revealed that automation is the best solution for eradiacting corruption and fraud in Government, noting that when the right processes and procedures are well in place, the issue of corruption will be a thing of the past.
The Commissioner stated this recently during a courtesy visit to his Office at Alausa, Ikeja by members of an NGO, “Fight Against Corruption Organization” (FACO) led by Dr. Francis Shopekan.
He opined that there is also a need to review the remuneration and incentives of civil servants in order to reflect the economic reality in the country, noting that “The present N18, 000 (Eighteen Thousand Naira) minimum wage structure requires a review that will be commensurate with the economic situation of the country. If civil ervants have unhindered access to loans and other incentives that will cushion the economic situation, the present leakages in the system will be radically reduced.”
On the issue of water shortage in some parts of the State, Ashade said the State government is working round the clock to resolve the issue, but he however suggested that government has to involve Public Private Partnership (PPP) for control, regulation and ease of payment.
According to him, “Funds required to serve every household with portable water is quite enormous for the government to source, hence the need to go into partnership with interested Organizations. But people must realize that certain things are paid for, like water and electricity as such control their usages.”
In his remarks, Dr. Francis Shopekan, who is also the President of the Organization, thanked the Commissioner for being able to attend to them despite his busy schedule while also congratulating him on his new appointment as the Commissioner for Finance.
Dr. Shopekan however solicited for assistance in funding their proposed seminar on corruption and fraud coming up in Year 2017.
It will be recalled that Mr. Akinyemi Ashade, was recently appointed the Commissioner for Finance while still overseeing the affairs of Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget (MEPB), pending the appointment of a new Commissioner for the Ministry.
