The Federal Government has set up an inter-agency Presidential Committee on Asset Recovery (PCAR) as part of its efforts to strengthen the ongoing fight against corruption, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said.
Speaking while receiving the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa, Mr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, who paid him a courtesy visit on Friday in Abuja, the minister also called for
the support of the UN in fighting corruption, which he said is as
dangerous and devastating as the fight against insecurity
He disclosed that the PCAR, which was set up on the recommendation of
the Presidential Advisory Council Against Corruption, will over-sight
the anti-corruption agenda and coordinate asset recovery process
Mohammed said the PCAR, which is headed by the Vice President,
is coordinating the collation and categorization of recovered assets
from 2015-2016; verifying the records and status of physical assets
such as buildings recovered under previous administration and setting
up the framework for Management of Recovered Stolen Asset to avoid
re-looting and mismanagement of asset as was experienced in the past.
He said the creation of asset register for recovered stolen assets and
other government assets to avoid a situation where former or even
serving public officers carry away government assets like vehicles,
computers etc. sometimes in multiples is also part of the mandate of
the committee
The Minister said the Federal Government is determined to recover all
assets illicitly acquired by public officers and other politically
exposed persons, hence new measures are underway to enhance recovery
of illegally acquired assets and these will be announced from time to
time.
To encourage whistle-blowers, the government is also considering an incentive
framework for those who provide useful information that lead to recovery of
stolen or illegally concealed public assets, he said, adding that the government
is also soliciting support of Nigerians in diaspora and international
NGOs in the
campaign for asset return from foreign governments.
Mohammed said Nigeria remained determined and focused in stemming
corruption, which is part of the reasons that Nigeria is suffering from economic
recession.
”Just as you (UN) have supported us in the fight against insecurity
in the North-east, we need your institutional, technical and
diplomatic support in fighting corruption,” Mohammed told the visiting UN official.
