‘We need technology to fight corruption because it is an enemy of fraud' — Tinubu To Bill Gates
President Bola Tinubu has stressed the administration's dedication to using technology to fight corruption and advance accountability and transparency in the public sector.
Tinubu emphasized the value of technology as a potent weapon in the battle against financial mismanagement and corruption in the public sector. Consequently, it is believed that investing in technology is essential to improving the efficiency and quality of services provided by the Nigerian public sector.
“Technology is the enemy of fraud, corruption, and irregularity. We have been working hard on improving technology,” Tinubu told Microsoft Founder and Philanthropist, Bill Gates, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Special Meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The contents of the discussions were made public in a statement titled “President Tinubu to Bill Gates: technology is the enemy of corruption; we are investing in technology to ensure transparency and accelerate performance” by Ajuri Ngelale, the President's Special Advisor on Media and Publicity.
According to Tinubu, he will use technology to promote transparency in a number of areas, including the recently introduced national consumer credit system and other important government initiatives.
He added that Nigeria stands to gain greatly from a system devoid of corruption, but he admitted that efforts to fortify procedures and prevent wrongdoing would encounter resistance.
“There is always the initial resistance. Corruption, self-interest, and fraudulent activity will always be an enemy, but when you bend that curve, you will receive the benefit.
“The nation will receive the benefit,” the President said.
In his reflections on his time serving as Lagos State governor, Tinubu emphasized how he made use of technology to support the commercial hub of Nigeria's income generating.
He emphasized collecting and utilizing essential data to create an efficient tax system, saying, “When I was governor of Lagos State, I faced challenges. I started with N600 million and ended up with over N8 billion. And right now, they are targeting a trillion naira with the use of technology in the state.”
“There is no other shortcut. We must invest in technology. We must focus, be diligent, and work hard,” the President added.
In briefing the President, Gates discussed a single technology platform that can combine various types of data. He emphasized that data harmonization is critical to efficient planning, security, and tax optimization.
“We are working with Mr. Wale Edun, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, on digitization.
“Before you came into office, a few things were attempted in identity management. But they have been very scattered. There have been multiple identification systems
“Now, there is a plan to take that technology called MOSIP and use it for this identification platform so that people can get digital benefits. We are providing support for that, and we can provide more support,” Gates explained.
The creator of Microsoft claimed that MOSIP ID has potential use in all government payment systems.
He continued by saying that when technology is extensively applied, it will facilitate tax collection and improve the efficiency of bank accounts and payments.
“That benefit will take a few years. However, there will be more bank accounts, more financial inclusion, and effective government payment programmes,” the philanthropist clarified.
He attested to Nigeria's capacity to administer this system and allied technology systems, citing the country's abundance of talented youths.
“The last time I went to the Microsoft office in Lagos, I saw the amazing work that they were doing and how they were growing their operations. So, you have a lot of Nigerian talents to manage these systems,” Gates affirmed.
The industrialist also talked about high-yield seeds and other crops that have the potential to boost productivity and nutrition in all regions of the country.
He emphasized that these seeds have been used in nations such as the United States and Brazil, where they have undergone extensive testing and certification for safety.
According to him, “There is no safety issue with these seeds. Supporting the Minister of Agriculture's effort in this regard is something that we feel is important and worth supporting.”
President Tinubu responded, “We will look at this and work on it further. I am proud of Nigeria's youths. They are very excited and creative with technology.
“They encourage us as we continue to press our reform efforts forward for their future prosperity. This is Nigeria's time to become what it ought to be.”
No comments:
Leave comment here