Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said the anti-graft agency would have no sympathy for public officials who profit themselves through corruption.
The EFCC chair’s statements were delivered during the opening ceremony of a three-day workshop on anti-corruption, fiscal responsibility, openness, and good governance, which was held at the EFCC Academy in Karu, Abuja.
The event was held in partnership with the House Committee on Financial Crimes for state and municipal leaders.
Olukoyede, represented by Chinwe Ndubueze, commandant of the EFCC Academy, stated that developing a culture of accountability and integrity in public service is critical because it will provide financial best practices to public officers at all levels of government.
“The EFCC under my leadership will have no sympathy for public officers who breach the rules to enrich themselves or their cronies,” he said.
“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 chairman stated that while Nigerians hate corruption, they support corrupt leaders when they are prosecuted.
He stated that if every citizen views corruption as a common enemy, underdevelopment would be eliminated.
