Eschew Corrruption, EFCC Admonishes Local Government Chairmen, Councillors

Eschew Corrruption, EFCC Admonishes Local Government Chairmen, Councillors

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has admonished local government chairmen and supervisory councillors in Ondo State to eschew corruption, economic and financial crimes.

This charge was made on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 by the Benin Head of the EFCC, Mailafia Yakubu at a workshop on “Leadership, Transparency and Accountability” organised for local government Chairmen and Councillors in Ondo State. 

Speaking on the topic, ‘Corruption and Abuse of Office’, Yakubu who was represented by Williams Oseghale, the Commission’s Head, Public Affairs Directorate, Benin Office, urged the chairmen and councillors to be transparent and accountable in the discharge of thier duties as the Commission will not hesitate to investigate and prosecute anyone found wanting.

“The EFCC Establishment Act empowers the Commission to investigate any person who is suspected to be living above his/her means with or without a petition. Therefore, we urge you to walk the straight and narrow part,” he stated.

Yakubu also charged the chairmen and councillors to see themselves as pivotal in bringing development to their area as the local government were saddled with the responsibility of service delivery, policy development and bringing government closer to the people. 

He urged the chairmen and councillors to lead by example. “The critical thing is that we must shun corruption and abuse of office. We must imbibe good moral values, have a changed mindset and begin to celebrate excellence, integrity and good moral behavior”. 

He thanked the organisers of the event for providing the Commission the platform to sensitized and enlighten the people on the evil of corruption and it’s consequences on the larger society.

“We have embarked on aggressive sensitization and enlightenment campaign among primary, secondary schools and tertiary institutions so as to catch them young and inculcate the right values into the younger generation. It is our hope that we will have a corrupt free nation in the nearest future.”

Earlier, the Honourable Commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Hon. Lola Fagbemi told the participants that the workshop was a call to service which they need to approach with a mindset of repositioning their councils to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.