EFCC vows no sympathy for corrupt public officers
EFCC
Abdullateef Fowewe
The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has stated that the anti-graft agency would show no sympathy to public officers who corruptly enrich themselves.
The EFCC chief’s remarks were conveyed at the opening ceremony of a three-day workshop on anti-corruption, fiscal responsibility, transparency and good governance which held at the EFCC Academy in Karu, Abuja.
This was made know in a statement on Monday by EFCC.
The event was organised in collaboration with the house committee on financial crimes for state and local government officials.
Represented by the Commandant of the EFCC Academy, Chinwe Ndubueze, the EFCC said fostering a culture of accountability and integrity in public service is crucial, as it would equip public officers in the different tiers of government with financial best practices.
He said, “The EFCC under my leadership will have no sympathy for public officers who breach the rules to enrich themselves or their cronies.
“70 percent of the problem that Nigeria faces in the public sector is down to poor fiscal transparency. In every budget cycle trillions of naira are appropriated to cater for the nation’s pressing infrastructural, social and economic needs.
“Instead, we have had the terrible misfortune of rules being circumvented and funds diverted or outrightly stolen through various sharp practices in the procurement value chain, while the rest of us suffer the consequence of the indiscretion of a few corrupt public officers.
“As public officers, you occupy a vantage position to determine the fortune of this nation. Nigeria with all its human and natural resources has no business being poor but corruption is the albatross that has held this nation captive.”
In his remarks, the Chairman, House Committee on Financial Crimes, Ginger Onwusibe who was represented by the clerk of the committee, Austin Adesoro advocated for the promotion of the Whistle Blowing Policy in public offices and charged the participants to see corruption as a public enemy number one.
“Public office demands a lot of sacrifices, not for pleasure. Nigeria needs accountable institutions to deliver on her mandate. The integrity of leaders is vital and corrupt officers must be sanctioned for corrupt practices. That’s why we need collaboration at all levels,” he said.
Representative of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, Hassan Salifu commended the EFCC and the House Committee on Financial Crimes for the laudable initiative and urged the participants to deploy the opportunity of the training at the workshop in the blocking of loopholes in the system.
He said, “Indeed, this is a timely and necessary intervention, particularly at a time when financial integrity and accountability must be at the forefront of governance at both federal and state and local government levels.”
Kinsley Amaku, who represented the Director/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Intelligence Unit, NFIU, in his goodwill message stated that the fight against corruption required not just enforcement but also a well-informed public sector that understands the legal and institutional frameworks designed to promote transparency.
