EFCC Won’t Spare Public Officers that Corruptly Enrich Themselves – Olukoyede
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has reiterated the Commission’s stance on holding public officers accountable for corrupt enrichment. He emphasized that under his leadership, the EFCC will not spare any public officers who engage in corruption and misappropriation of public funds.
Olukoyede made these remarks during the opening ceremony of a three-day workshop on Anti-corruption, Fiscal Responsibility, Transparency, and Good Governance. The workshop, which was aimed at state and local government officials, was organized by the House Committee on Financial Crimes in collaboration with the EFCC at the EFCC Academy in Karu, Abuja.
The EFCC chair, represented by the Deputy Commandant of the EFCC Academy, Chinwe Ndubueze, expressed the Commission’s firm stance on fighting corruption, stating, “The EFCC under my leadership will have no sympathy for public officers who breach the rules to enrich themselves or their cronies.” He further added that the training would serve as a turning point in fostering accountability and integrity within public service. It would also equip public officials at various government levels with financial best practices.
Olukoyede also highlighted the role of fiscal responsibility in ensuring transparent and accountable governance. He pointed out that a significant part of Nigeria’s challenges in the public sector stems from poor fiscal transparency. “70 percent of the problem that Nigeria faces in the public sector is down to poor fiscal transparency,” he explained. “In every budget cycle, trillions of naira are allocated to address the nation’s pressing needs, but funds are often misappropriated or outright stolen, resulting in the suffering of the citizens due to the actions of a few corrupt individuals.”
He further stated that corruption remains a major obstacle for Nigeria’s development, adding that despite the country’s abundant human and natural resources, corruption has kept the nation in a state of poverty.
Honourable Ginger Onwusibe, Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Crimes, who was represented by Austin Adesoro, the committee’s clerk, emphasized the need to promote the Whistle Blowing Policy in public offices. He urged participants to view corruption as the nation’s public enemy number one. “Public office demands a lot of sacrifices, not for pleasure. Nigeria needs accountable institutions to deliver on her mandate,” Onwusibe remarked, underscoring the importance of collaboration across all levels of governance.
The representative from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Hassan Salifu, commended the EFCC and the House Committee on Financial Crimes for the initiative. He stressed the importance of financial integrity and accountability, urging the participants to use the training to block financial loopholes in the system.
Kinsley Amaku, representing the Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), also supported the workshop’s objectives. He emphasized that combating corruption requires not only enforcement but also a public sector that is well-informed about legal frameworks and institutional measures to promote transparency.
