Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology and a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bukola Saraki, has declared that the only way to reduce corruption in governance and public administration is to fashion out a thorough, comprehensive and cohesive policy of accountability.

He however said: "While asset declaration is an accepted protocol of statutory disclosure, it alone as a measure cannot reduce corruption as we have seen in previous administration."

Saraki in a statement issued in Ilorin yesterday signed by his Media Aide, Mr. Bankole Omisore, said such thorough policy of accountability must be properly implemented starting from civil service training and monitoring so as to achieve a maximum result.

According to him, "To reduce corruption in governance, a thorough comprehensive and cohesive policy of accountability must be implemented, begining from proper civil service training and monitoring.

"Corruption has been one of the greatest challenges we face as a country in years past, therefore, all efforts, both personal commitment and systemic arrangements, should be put in place to further cage this endemic in our society."

Saraki who was recently re-elected to the National Assembly as a senator, called on all politicians, both elected and appointed, as a matter of national importance, to emulate the leadership of president-elect, Mohammadu Buhari, by declaring their asset and also committing to transparency and accountability in every aspect of our lives as a nation so as to restore confidence of the citizenry in government.

The former governor of Kwara State made this clarification following a statement he made in Ilorin, the state capital, on April 14, following the success of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), when the party won all the contested seats in the state.

The senator who has always declared his assets before and after every political office since 2003, assured Nigerians that he would continue to do so but more than ever, Nigerians want and deserve more.

He therefore stressed that: "I want public officials to be committed to zero tolerance for corruption and show true leadership by example by making sure they are not found wanting in their respective fields of assignment."