Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says Nigeria will not return to years of waste and corruption.
Osinbajo said this at the graduation ceremony of the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru.
The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, has been accused of wanton corruption.
The Buhari government swiftly began a probe of the Jonathan administration when it came to power. Some members of the former administration are now being prosecuted.
Speaking at the event, the vice president said those who brought the country to its knees by looting the treasury would never have their way again.
He said despite a shortfall in revenue the government had been able to save money and provide financial bailout to states.
“We must pay attention to what we are seeing today, and some of the shameless noises of those who brought our nation to its knees, many of whom still have looted funds in their possession, trying to rewrite history and hoodwink the populace again. We say never again,” he said.
“But with 60 percent less revenue, we started a series of bailouts for the states, to enable them pay salaries and pensions. With 60 percent less revenue, we were able to provide about N1.3 trillion for capital expenditure, the largest amount for capital in our nation’s history.
“For the first time in five years we saved $500 million, and invested another $500 million in the Sovereign Wealth Fund. Today our external reserves stand at $35 billion the highest in the past four years.”
