Senate President Bukola Saraki, has blamed pervasive corruption as the reason why some state governors are unable pay the salaries of workers.
18 state governments are owing their workers’ salaries, with some owing up to five months.
In Saraki view, corruption has become a major cog to development in the country.
Speaking on Monday when Ekpo Nta, chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), paid him a courtesy visit, the senate president said that the 8th assembly has made the fight against corruption a priority.
He said, “The cost of corruption on our national life is beyond financial cost. You see in some states now that they are not paying salaries,” he said. “It has also led to poor funding of the education and health sectors and it’s affecting cost of governance and failure of public institutions and infrastructure.
“The 8th senate has a position on zero tolerance for corruption. Making the fight against corruption a priority is a must and we are committed to that. Our goal is to work with you to reduce significantly, the level of corruption in this country.”
Ekpo in his remarks reiterated the commitment of the anti-graft agency toward ameliorating the cankerworm in the country.
