Magu Tasks Nigerians on Corruption

Magu Tasks Nigerians on Corruption

Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, has identified transparency and accountability as essential ingredients in the fight against corruption.

He also identified betrayal of public trust as the worst crime any public officer can commit against humanity and called for all hands to be on deck to fight corruption for a better Nigeria.

The EFCC boss made this known on Friday, July 27, 2018, while delivering a speech entitled “Transparency and Accountability: Role In Nation Building”, during the inauguration of Public Transparency and Accountability Project, PTAP, organized by Grassroots Accountability Advocacy Foundation, GAAF, at Westpoint Hotel, Abuja.

According to him, sustainable anti-corruption procedures like transparency and accountability were vital tools to achieving good governance at all levels of government adding that, “transparency and accountability in government business are mutually inclusive and not exclusive mandates”.

Magu, who was represented by Samin Amaddin, Head, Enlightenment and Reorientation Unit of the EFCC, further stated that the successes recorded so far by the Commission would not have been possible without the embedded core values of the EFCC such as Integrity, Transparency, Courage, Professionalism and Leadership.

He described accountability and transparency as “oxygen to the EFCC in carrying out its mandates”.

“The little successes recorded thus far by the EFCC, would not have been possible, but for the embedded core values of the Commission which form the rudder blades by which the Commission is steered.

“Quite aptly, today’s discourse theme-Accountability and Transparency is exactly what gives oxygen to the EFCC in performing its daily obligations to the Nigerian people” he said.

While calling on the public to ask unsettling questions and demand answers from those entrusted with public funds, Magu said “the Commission adheres to all applicable laws and ethical standards, abhors conflict of interest, protects the rights of victims of economic and financial crimes and respects the rights of those under investigation and prosecution”.

In her inaugural speech, Genevieve Ifeoma Anthony, Founder, GAAF, said the only weapon that could be used in fighting corruption, was to hold the office holders accountable for their actions.

According to her, “corruption, hard as it may seem to dislodge from our culture, is a scourge we must fight with all our might and strength to eliminate, because it is the greatest threat to the success of public policy, the achievement of sustainable human development and the successful management of economic and social resources”.

Her words: “Political leaders and legislatures are meant to be our surrogates, entrusted with the responsibility of judiciously managing our material and human resources and we must have viable options of ensuring that they act as good stewards by strengthening such instruments of accountability as legislative reviews of ministry’s activities, periodic audits reports on public expenditure, independent and robust judicial system, free, fair and independent electoral body and a vibrant, competitive and responsible free press and civil society”.