Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has stated that the National Assembly must open its budget to public scrutiny, adding that it (National Assembly) musts dismantle the culture of impunity, opaqueness and corruption.

Chief Obasanjo made this statement at the Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy, International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan. He stressed that if the current physical challenge is not critically addressed, Nigeria may be on its way into another episode of debt overhang, which may not be good for our country Nigeria he said.

“Few years ago, the country was rescued from its creditors and those creditors were bad. My first year in government as president, we were spending over $3billion to service the Country’s debt, and anytime we could not pay, they ply up at a punishing rate.

“I implemented remedial measures and reorientation program to undertake and involve a national strategy for public service reform. The reform process commenced in 2003 and by 2007, significant progress were made, he said. The former president also emphasised that corruption must not have resting place “within our society, we must kick corruption out because it destroys almost everything in terms of attitude, nepotism, favouritism and all aspects of corruption.

Obasanjo said there must be need for change. Leadership has to be committed to change beginning with the reality of the budget, need for sober reflection, rebuilding the foundation of governance involves paying attention to values, principles and practices that promote hard work, innovation and sacrifice.