EFCC Chair Olukoyede Warns Public Officials Against Corruption, Urges Strict Compliance with Procurement Rules
EFCC Chair Olukoyede Warns Public Officials Against Corruption, Urges Strict Compliance with Procurement Rules
EFCC Chair Olukoyede Warns Public Officials Against Corruption, Urges Strict Compliance with Procurement Rules
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede, has urged public officials to uphold integrity, transparency and accountability in the management of public resources, warning against using public office for personal enrichment.
Olukoyede gave the warning in Abuja while speaking at a two-day induction programme organised by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms for the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and members of the Governing Board of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC).
The programme, themed “Institutional Governance and Regulatory Compliance,” focused on strengthening ethical leadership, accountability and compliance within public institutions.
Speaking on “The Role of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Improving Accountability in the Public Service,” the EFCC Chairman said public resources must be managed ethically, efficiently and strictly in the interest of citizens.
He expressed concern that corruption continues to undermine the effective management of government resources, noting that billions of naira are lost annually through practices that divert funds meant for infrastructure and social services into private hands.
Olukoyede identified treasury theft, diversion and misappropriation of public funds, bribery and kickbacks, procurement and contract fraud, payroll and pension fraud, as well as duty tour allowance fraud among common forms of corruption in the public sector.
He particularly identified contract fraud as one of the most prevalent forms of corruption in government institutions. According to him, such fraud often involves contract splitting to evade approval limits, manipulation of bidding processes, awarding contracts to unqualified companies and making payments for poorly executed or non-existent projects.
The EFCC Chairman urged members of the SSDC governing board to familiarise themselves with the Public Procurement Act, Financial Regulations and Public Service Rules, stressing that strict compliance would help protect them from corruption-related investigations and prosecution.
He also cautioned the officials against using their positions to pursue government contracts directly or through proxies, operating foreign bank accounts in violation of applicable rules, engaging in businesses incompatible with public office and conducting financial transactions outside recognised financial institutions.
Addressing the participants, Olukoyede warned them against viewing their appointments as an opportunity to benefit personally from public resources.
“Public service is not an invitation to loot the treasury,” he said, urging the officials to approach their responsibilities with discipline, integrity and a strong sense of duty.
He further advised them to maintain proper records of financial transactions and carefully review official documents before signing them.
“Before you sign that document, study it. Your signature is your name and integrity. Guard it,” he cautioned.
Olukoyede recalled that the EFCC was established in 2003 to combat economic and financial crimes and corruption through investigation, prosecution, asset recovery and public enlightenment.
He acknowledged challenges confronting the anti-corruption campaign, including limited resources and manpower, inadequate public support, delays in the prosecution of high-profile cases and public cynicism.
He nevertheless reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to strengthening accountability and supporting efforts to build a public service anchored on transparency, responsible governance and protection of Nigeria’s commonwealth.
EFCC Chair Olukoyede Warns Public Officials Against Corruption, Urges Strict Compliance with Procurement Rules
