Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has issued a stern warning to public officers, stating that the anti-graft agency will show no leniency toward those who corruptly enrich themselves.
Olukoyede’s remarks were delivered at the opening ceremony of a three-day workshop on anti-corruption, fiscal responsibility, transparency, and good governance, held at the EFCC Academy in Karu, Abuja.
The event, organized in partnership with the House Committee on Financial Crimes, gathered state and local government officials to engage in discussions aimed at fostering a culture of integrity.
Represented by Chinwe Ndubueze, Commandant of the EFCC Academy, Olukoyede emphasized the importance of instilling accountability within public service. He stressed that equipping public officers with financial best practices would be key to building a more transparent and responsible government.
He said: “The EFCC under my leadership will have no sympathy for public officers who breach the rules to enrich themselves or their cronies.”
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“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.”
Earlier this month, the EFCC boss said Nigerians condemn corruption yet rally behind corrupt leaders when they are being prosecuted.
He said underdevelopment would be a thing of the past if every citizen sees corruption as a common enemy.
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