The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday said the country’s religious bodies had a role to play in the fight against corruption.
EFCC chairman Ibrahim Lamorde said this in Abuja at the presentation of ``Teaching Manuals on Anti-Corruption’’ by the Inter-Faith Anti-Corruption Advisory Committee (IAAC).
The two major religions in Nigeria have a role to play in the fight against corruption and to change people’s thinking.
By the time these manuals go out, we believe it will bring out changes because corruption has remained one major factor bringing down Nigeria’s development,’’ he said.
The chairman pledged the readiness of the commission to continue to support IAAC and the fight against corruption.
In his opening remarks, IAAC chairman Ishak Oloyede, said that the body was partnering with the EFCC to educate the populace through its media outreach.
According to him, the commission is also using its education manual on anti-corruption to educate members of the public on the need to shun corruption.
Oloyede, who is also the Vice Chancellor of University of Ilorin, said that the manuals would be distributed to Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs within the six-geo political zones.
He said that the two bodies were expected to get the manuals to enable them to teach the people about the EFCC’s approach to the fight against corruption.
Prof. Olabisi Olasehinde-Williams, the reviewer of the ``Christian Manual on Anti-Corruption Strategic Studies’’, said the manual was prepared to change the behaviour and mind set of readers.
Olasehinde-Williams, who is also the Director, Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ilorin, said the manual would enhance the knowledge and style of learning of readers.
Also speaking on the occasion, the Head of the Muslim Manual Preparation on Anti-Corruption, Yahaya Oyewole, University of Maiduguri, said the two religious manuals would enhance the fight against corruption.
EFCC restates resolve to beam searchlight on public servants
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Lamorde, on Wednesday restated that the anti-graft body would beam its searchlight on public servants to curb corrupt practices.
Lamorde spoke at the Fourth National Retreat on Ethics and Transparency organised for civil servants in Lagos.
The EFCC is using the forum provided by this retreat to serve notice to all public servants at all levels of government that we will come after you if you compromise your positions and engage in fraudulent or corrupt practices," he said.
The three-day retreat, with the theme "Credible and Transparent Conduct of Public Officers in Nigeria as key to National Transformation," was organised by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, in conjunction with the Centre for Economic Research and Policy Development.
Lamorde, who was represented by Jimmy Imo, his Chief of Staff, bemoaned the decadence in the civil service.
In those days, if you wanted a job done efficiently, especially for the benefit of the citizenry, the Nigeria Civil Service could be trusted to creditably carry out the job; today the reverse is the case," he said.
The chairman said that there must be a change to enable the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan to succeed.
``To bring about the economic transformation of Nigeria, public servants must act ethically at all times in the discharge of their roles.
``No nation has ever developed or can sustain its development without a vibrant and credible public service," he said.
Lamorde expressed regrets that recent developments in the country showed that public servants had abandoned the pursuit of excellence due to greed and corruption.
``It is because some public servants failed to act creditably that poverty prevails in the land and millions of young men and women, who are graduates, continue to roam our streets in search of elusive jobs.
``The epileptic power supply, the near total decay of infrastructure in the country, from our roads to pipe-borne water, schools and hospitals are all consequences of the failure to act creditably,’’ he said.
Lamorde charged participants to come up with practical measures to reverse the ugly trend.
Also speaking, Sen. Omar Hambagda, who represented the Senate President, David Mark, said that the country’s value system had been eroded.
He said that many people now valued money and material things above integrity and hard work in the country.
According to him, if nothing concrete is done to restore the nation’s value system, the future of the younger generation is at risk.
The Head of Service of the Federation, Isa Bello, said that the guiding principles of work ethics and values in the Federal Civil Service included stewardship, trust, professionalism and accountability.
He cited other values as leadership, selfishness, integrity, justice and fairness.
Bello, who was represented by M. Idris, assured Nigerians that the government would continue to place a very high premium on these virtues.
"We will not condone apathy, lethargy and corruption as we set out to transform the service to meet the developmental agenda of government," he said.
ICPC wants review of constitutional provisions for LG funding
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) has called for an urgent review of the constitutional provisions relating to local governments’ funding in the country.
Ekpo Nta, the Acting Chairman of ICPC, made the call in Abuja on Wednesday at the ongoing 3-day National Workshop on Mathematics.
Nta, speaking on ``Effective Management of Local Government Resources,’’ said the commission had noticed ``massive mismanagement of funds and resources at the local government level.''
``We have prosecuted quite a number of local government staff.’’
Nta said the operation of joint state and local government account over the years had slowed physical development and fiscal maturity at the local government level.
``In view of the constitutional limitations, ICPC can only assist development at the grassroots by proactively monitoring the operation of these joint accounts.
``We are monitoring selected states, especially those run by caretaker committees for several years.’’
The Director General of the National Mathematical Centre (NMC), organisers of the workshop, Sam Ale, said the workshop was part of efforts to enhance teaching and learning of mathematics at the grassroots.
Ale said that the best way to address the general apathy towards mathematics was to start with Education Secretaries in the local governments.
Tajudeen Awe, Chairman, Irepodun/ Ifeolodun Local Government Area of Ekiti and a participant, described the workshop as educative.
He said mathematics was one of the keys to the management of local government accounts.
Another participant, Naomi Dalyop, Education Secretary of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau, said the workshop had changed her attitude towards mathematics.
She promised to apply the knowledge gained to revive the interest of pupils and students in mathematics.
The theme of the workshop is ``Mathematics, Key to National Transformation: the Role of Local Governments.''
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