On Thursday, July 11, 2024, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), called on Nigerians to demonstrate their commitment to fighting corruption by fully embracing the government's whistleblowing policy. Speaking in Abuja at the Unity Fountain during the commemoration of the 2024 African Anti-Corruption Day, Olukoyede highlighted the importance of this policy, launched on December 21, 2016, by the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Finance. The whistleblowing policy encourages individuals to voluntarily report fraud, bribery, looted government funds, financial misconduct, abuse or embezzlement of government assets, and other forms of corruption or theft.
The theme for the 2024 African Anti-Corruption Day, “Effective Whistleblowing for a Corruption-Free Nigeria,” underpinned Olukoyede's call for greater and consistent commitment from Nigerians to tackle economic and financial crimes. He emphasized the increasing threat corruption poses to individual, corporate, and national growth and development, urging Nigerians to utilize the whistleblowing initiative to demonstrate their resolve to combat corruption.
"Aside from terrorism, corruption ranks as the next deadliest affliction of humanity in every region of the world. In view of the danger and threat to our existence which corruption represents, it is imperative that individuals, communities, corporate bodies, and indeed the whole world join hands together to tackle it frontally. One way of doing this is through the whistle-blowing initiative," he stated.
Olukoyede further explained that the fight against corruption requires absolute commitment to integrity and unwavering focus. "We cannot win the war against corruption through lip service, emotional outburst, or mere mob campaigns. There is a need for commitment, passion, consistency, and credibility of intelligence. Every whistle blown must point towards truth and evidential proofs," he added.
Various stakeholders at the Road Walk shared their views on the need for more affirmative actions against corruption. Joe Ajearo, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), pledged the NLC's full support for the EFCC in its fight against corruption. "Most of the governors being prosecuted today are those who couldn’t pay minimum wage. This is an urgent need for us to fight corruption, and the NLC will throw its weight behind the agency in all fights against corruption," he said.
Adams Otakwu, Chairperson of the Conference of Civil Society and Coordinator of Civil Military Co-operation (CIMCO), praised the EFCC for mobilizing Nigerians against corruption. "It may interest us to know that upon all the threats to national security inclusive of terrorism, insurgency, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, the most insidious of them is corruption, and that is why the fight against corruption must be tackled head-on," he remarked.
Otakwu also called on the government, the national assembly, and the international community to support the EFCC by providing adequate funding to enable the Commission to carry out its mandate effectively. Other speakers at the event included representatives from the Chief of Defense Staff, Air Vice Marshal Etim Markus, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Correctional Service, and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), among others.
In Abuja, the African Anti-Corruption Day was marked by a vibrant Road Walk involving EFCC staff and other anti-corruption stakeholders. Amidst dancing, singing, and enthusiastic chants, Olukoyede led the Walk from the Wuse 2 Zonal office of the EFCC through the streets of Maitama, concluding at the Unity Fountain. Impressed by the awareness efforts, many Nigerians joined the Walk, cheering and waving in support. Similar events were held in other Zonal Commands, including Lagos, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Uyo, Ilorin, Ibadan, Makurdi, Sokoto, Kaduna, Enugu, Benin-City, Gombe, and Kano, where Command Directors addressed stakeholders on the critical importance of whistleblowing in the fight against corruption.
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