Reps, EFCC Urge Public Servants to Avoid Corruption
The House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes, alongside the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has called on public servants to avoid corrupt practices that could hinder the nation’s development. This message was delivered during the opening session of a three-day workshop on “Fiscal Responsibility and Transparency,” organized by the House Committee in collaboration with the EFCC in Abuja.
The workshop, facilitated by Barclays Global Consult Nigeria Limited, was attended by over 100 state and elected local government officers from Jigawa State.
Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, Chairman of the Financial Crimes Committee, was represented by the Acting Clerk, Austen Tolu Adesoro. Onwusibe highlighted that despite current legal and institutional measures, the country continues to struggle with public sector corruption, money laundering, and fraud. He urged state governments to implement laws against financial crimes and promote ethical reorientation. He also stressed the importance of ethical whistleblowing and respect for public funds to foster a culture of professionalism and commitment.
In an interview, Onwusibe emphasized the workshop’s objective of equipping officials with the knowledge to fight corruption. He noted that beyond overseeing agencies, the House Committee on Financial Crimes is focused on preventive measures. He also revealed plans to amend the EFCC Act to embed it fully in the Nigerian Constitution, making it more effective.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, who was represented by Acting Commandant of the EFCC Academy, Chinwe Ndubueze, stressed that fiscal responsibility is key to good governance. He criticized the poor fiscal transparency in the public sector, saying that mismanagement and theft of public funds undermine the country’s progress. Olukoyede called on public officers to abandon corrupt practices and help the nation achieve its potential.
Hajiya Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, CEO of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), emphasized that fighting corruption requires not only enforcement but also an informed public sector. She said bridging the knowledge gap about legal and institutional frameworks is crucial for promoting transparency.
Rt. Hon. Matthew Kolawole, CEO of Barclays Global Consult Nigeria Limited, explained that the program aims to educate officials, especially newly elected local government officers, on financial management and the laws governing it.
The chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Jigawa State, Hon. Abdulraman Lawal, and the Director of Local Governments in Jigawa State, Ismail Yusuf, expressed their hopes that the training would better equip them to manage finances responsibly and avoid financial mismanagement.
Other key anti-corruption leaders at the session included Dr. Usman Bello Abdullahi, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, represented by Juwariya Badamasi, and Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, represented by Hassan Salihu.
