Senate
President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has called on commercial banks operating
in the country to partner with the Federal Government
to effectively tackle corruption in the system.
to effectively tackle corruption in the system.
Saraki
who spoke when the management of Fidelity Bank Plc, led by its Managing
Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo,
visited him at the National Assembly, said the banks are at a vantage position to disclose suspicious transactions to the relevant authorities.
visited him at the National Assembly, said the banks are at a vantage position to disclose suspicious transactions to the relevant authorities.
The
Senate President, according to a statement by his Media Office in Abuja, stated
that the banks have a major role to play in stamping out corruption from all
aspects of the economy.
Saraki
said: “I think also that the area that is key is the fight against corruption.
The banks must play a role in knowing your customers, not only in knowing your
customers but also being accountable for the activities of your customers
because in developed societies, banks know that if their customers are being
questioned in any activity, they too are responsible for either not bringing it
to the attention of the government because there is nothing that happens that
does not go through the banking system.
“So,
if the banking system is tight, it will bring the greatest contribution in
fighting corruption even more than anywhere else because at the end of the day,
it must come through the banking system.
“But
I think when the banks turn a blind eye saying it is not our business, that
does not help. I think we need to start looking at that in supporting the
government in addressing this area.”
He
further urged banks to ensure that they lend needed support to farmers in order
to boost food production and stimulate the growth of agriculture in the
country.
Earlier,
Okonkwo thanked the Senate President for receiving his team despite his busy
schedule, saying that the visit was in line with the bank’s ongoing engagement
with critical stakeholders in the economy.
He
added that Fidelity Bank has been and would continue to provide support for
Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), industries and telecommunication
sectors in order to grow the economy.
[vanguard]
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