Mohammed Idris: Tinubu has not weaponised anti-graft agencies against opposition
Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, says President Bola Tinubu’s administration has not weaponised anti-corruption agencies against political opposition.
Idris spoke on Wednesday at the opening of the ICPC roundtable engagement on strategic integration of state commissioners of information in the fight against corruption, held in Abuja.
He said the administration maintains a strict policy of non-interference in the work of anti-graft institutions.
“Fighting corruption is indeed one of the 8-point priorities of the Tinubu administration, and that is why the President is strengthening the institutional framework to fight corruption, especially through the ICPC and the EFCC.
“By its policy of non-interference, the administration has made it clear that anti-corruption agencies are not instruments of political witch-hunts. They operate with independence and professionalism in line with the rule of law,” Idris said.
The minister stressed that there would be no safe haven for corruption in Nigeria under Tinubu, adding that the president is implementing judicial reforms to curb unnecessary delays in corruption trials.
He noted that the theme of the roundtable, Partnership for Strengthening Transparency and Accountability at State and Local Government Levels Through Strategic Communications, justified the participation of state commissioners of information who “have the onerous task of distilling and cascading information to other strata of the Nigerian society”.
Idris said transparency and accountability remain strong pillars of democracy and are central to Tinubu’s “grundnorm of administration”.
“I wish to implore you all, Honourable Commissioners, that irrespective of the political party you belong, it is important you identify with the massive opportunities inherent in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu, who is relentless in reshaping our economy to address years of neglect, and its limitations, and in turn, achieve inclusion, diversification, growth and steady development,” he said.
The minister also commended the ICPC under Musa Adamu Aliyu, its chairman, for adopting a creative approach to communication by engaging state and local government stakeholders to help convey government policies to the grassroots.
